Celltrion's blood cancer drug Truxima to debut in Middle East

South Korea’s Celltrion will debut its blood cancer and autoimmune disease biosilimar drug Truxima in the Middle East and North Africa.

According to industry sources on Thursday, Celltrion Healthcare, Celltrion’s marketing and distribution subsidiary, recently signed a contract with Jordan-based drug company Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC over exclusive rights to distribute and market the copy of Roche's blockbuster medicine Rituxan/MabThera in 18 countries, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement represents an expanded partnership between Celltrion and Hikma, according to Celltrion.

Shares of Celltrion Thursday closed 1.84 percent down at 197,300 won, and Celltrion Healthcare 1 percent down at 89,100 won from the previous session.

Truxima is indicated for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. The originator drug Rituxan/MabThera generated nearly $7 billion in the world last year.

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