[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s Celltrion will launch its biosimilar Truxima, referencing Roche’s lymphatic cancer treatment Rituximab, at a 10 percent discount over the price of the branded product in South Korea, according to the company on Jan. 24.
Truxima is priced at 934,655 won (US$803.80) per 0.5g/50ml. This reflects an approximate 10 percent discount compared to the originator product Roche’s Rituximab of 1,038,506 won when its patent period expires.
According to a Celltrion official, the exact date of Truxima’s launch in Korea is “still under discussion” but industry watchers expect that the knockoff drug will hit pharmacies in the first quarter.
By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)