[Hinews] HANOI, Vietnam — South Korean biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion is making significant inroads into Vietnam, a key emerging market in ASEAN, by expanding its portfolio of autoimmune disease and oncology treatments, the company announced.
Since opening its Vietnam subsidiary in 2024, Celltrion has introduced two key biosimilars: Remsima (infliximab) in June and Herzuma (trastuzumab) in August. It has since secured a one-year supply contract with Vietnam’s largest military hospital and a two-year tender to supply Herzuma to medical institutions in the south-central region. Celltrion is also gearing up to introduce Remsima SC (a subcutaneous formulation of infliximab) and Truxima (rituximab) in the second half of the year, accelerating its portfolio expansion.
Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market, valued at around $8.5 billion in 2023, has expanded at an average annual rate of more than 7% over the past decade. Celltrion’s key biologics account for roughly $145 million in the public-sector market, with an annual growth rate exceeding 10%.
Celltrion CI (Image courtesy of Celltrion)
Celltrion is pursuing a tailored direct-sales strategy to strengthen its edge in hospital tenders, while deepening collaboration with local healthcare professionals and regulatory authorities. This includes sharing expertise from South Korea’s advanced medical ecosystem to enhance Vietnam’s healthcare infrastructure.
Celltrion’s products are also gaining traction across other ASEAN markets, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. According to IQVIA data, Remsima holds over 70% of the market in Malaysia, while its subcutaneous formulation, Remsima SC, commands 93% in Singapore. Truxima leads with 70% market share in Singapore and 61% in Thailand.
“Vietnam’s rapidly growing market presents a significant opportunity to expand access to high-quality biologics,” said Seung-seob Jung, Celltrion’s head of Central Asia operations. “By strengthening our direct-sales capabilities and deepening Korea-Vietnam pharmaceutical and biotech collaboration, we aim to further scale our presence.”
