Celltrion's Zymfentra Added to Major US PBM Insurance Lists

Following its US introduction in March, Zymfentra (infliximab), a subcutaneous injectable formulation made by South Korean biosimilar manufacturer Celltrion, has been added to the insurance-covered prescription lists by three major US Prescription Benefit Managers (PBMs). PBMs serve as middlemen between pharmacies, pharmaceutical firms, and insurance companies, and they own about 80% of prescription medications that are covered by insurance in the United States.

Celltrion is working to get the biosimilar covered by private insurance plans and has obtained a public insurance contract with one of the PBMs. Zymfentra, an oral biosimilar of Celltrion's intravenous "Remsima," is self-administered and used to treat inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The US market for treatments for inflammatory bowel disease is projected to be worth $14 trillion won ($10.2 billion).