CELLTRION
Celltrion (KRX:068270) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire product assets for the Asia Pacific region from Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG (“Takeda”) in an effort to strengthen its R&D capabilities in the Global Small Molecule Drug sector.
This signing allows Celltrion to acquire Takeda’s Primary Care businesses in the Asia Pacific region and secure rights for patent, trademark, approval and sales of a total of 18 prescription and over-the-counter brands currently available in 9 markets in the region, namely, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. These products grossed a combined sale of approximately $140 million USD (approx. KRW 170 billion) in Fiscal Year 2018 in these markets. These products are expected to be distributed by Celltrion Pharm, a Celltrion affiliate company, in Korea and by Celltrion Healthcare in other AP territories leveraging their distribution and marketing capabilities.
Celltrion agreed to acquire these rights for USD 278.3 million. It will acquire the business through its wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore. Subject to approval from relevant local and/or foreign authorities, Celltrion plans to complete the transaction by the end of the fourth quarter this year.
The acquired product portfolio includes global new drug Nesina, Actos (both for diabetes) and Edarbi (hypertension) and also well-known OTC drugs such as Whituben (cold remedy) and Albothyl (stomatitis). Among them, Nesina and Edarbi are protected through product patents until 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Takeda and Celltrion have also entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement under which Takeda will continue to manufacture the portfolio of divested products and supply them to Celltrion. Celltrion plans to receive relevant technology transfer to start local manufacturing at Celltrion Pharma’s cGMP production facilities for some of the key acquired products for sales in local and foreign markets.
Celltrion’s first large-scale M&A deal, this acquisition gives Celltrion a pivotal opportunity to establish a robust presence as a local original drug provider in the Korean market. Demand has been high for treatments for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia in Korea. Despite this trend, multinational pharmaceuticals have constituted a majority of the local supplies. Celltrion hopes to position itself as a stable supplier of high-quality, made-in-Korea original drugs and contribute to the reinforced financial strength of the national health system.
The deal also provides significant potential for the company’s sustainable growth. Celltrion plans to quickly land these products in the Asia Pacific market, tapping into Takeda’s established brand power for prescription drugs.
Celltrion expects this acquisition to allow the company to mature as a comprehensive global pharmaceutical company, as it adds a powerful small molecule product lineup to its already strong biopharmaceutical pipeline, which includes autoimmune disease and anti-cancer drugs.
The competitive over-the-counter drug brands added through this deal will also help raise Celltrion’s brand awareness among consumers.
Meanwhile, diabetes and hypertension drug markets in the Asia Pacific region were worth KRW 3 trillion and KRW 2.76 trillion1 last year, respectively. The combined market size of these two segments is expected to double to KRW 11 trillion by 2030.
This deal is expected to strengthen Celltrion’s global R&D capability and help spur the development of new drugs and insulin biosimilars. Celltrion will utilize the new drug pipeline to complete its portfolio for diabetes and hypertension treatments. Based on these efforts, Celltrion will continue to tap the U.S. and global procurement markets to provide high-quality and cost-effective pharmaceuticals around the world.
Celltrion CEO Kee Woo Sung said, ”With 17 million diabetes and hypertension patients in Korea alone and more than 60% of the elderly population have three or more chronic diseases, the market for chronic disease drugs is becoming more important. By acquiring the rights for a selection of Takeda’s products in Asia Pacific, Celltrion will be able to localize essential drugs for diabetes and hypertension, for which many local patients had to depend on imported drugs. This transaction will help us contribute to improved public healthcare and more resilient National Health finance in this super-aged society. Celltrion will take a big step to become a comprehensive global biopharmaceutical company.”
About Celltrion, Inc
Headquartered in Incheon, Korea, Celltrion is a leading biopharmaceutical company, specializing in the research, development and manufacture of small molecules, biosimilars and innovative drugs. Celltrion strives to provide more affordable biosimilar mAbs to patients who previously had limited access to advanced therapeutics. Celltrion received FDA and EC’s approval for INFLECTRA® and Remsima® , respectively, the world’s first mAb biosimilar approved from regulatory agencies in developed countries. For more information, visit www.celltrion.com .
1. IQVIA, 2019, Market size of diabetes treatments in 8 APAC countries and hypertension treatments in 6 APAC countries
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005429/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Armis Streamlines Network and Security Operations by Utilizing Keysight’s Application Fusion Platform18.11.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
Armis' technology can now run on the Keysight Vision E1S network packet brokers using the open interface known as Application Fusion, empowering security teams to enhance efficiency, reduce infrastructure costs and strengthen their security posture Armis, the cyber exposure management & security company, and Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today announced that Armis’ cyber exposure management technology will now run directly on the Keysight Vision E1S network packet brokers, with additional models expected to support Application Fusion in the future. Through the Application Fusion interface, Armis’ technology can now run directly on the Keysight network packet brokers, combining network visibility with continuous cyber exposure management and security capabilities. By providing immediate, actionable insights across the entire network, without the need for additional hardware, security teams can respond to threats faster, proactively reduce risk and increase operational efficie
Parse Biosciences Announces FFPE-compatible Barcoding Technology for Whole Transcriptome Single Cell Analysis18.11.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
New method enables single cell discovery from archived tissue samples, expanding access to translational and clinical research Parse Biosciences, the leading provider of scalable and accessible single cell sequencing solutions, today announced a breakthrough technology that unlocks the full potential of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. By enabling whole transcriptome capture from archived tissues at single cell resolution, this innovation opens new possibilities for discovery in oncology, translational research, and precision medicine. The use of FFPE samples for single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has traditionally been limited to profiling a predefined list of genes due to RNA degradation and fragmentation, reducing transcriptome coverage and discovery potential. Parse’s breakthrough overcomes these challenges with a novel split-pool combinatorial barcoding method that enables true transcriptome-wide scRNA-seq of FFPE-preserved tissues through its unique RNA captu
KP Labs and Frontgrade Gaisler Join Forces to Advance Fault-Tolerant Computing for Next-Generation Space Missions18.11.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
KP Labs, a European Leader in delivering autonomous systems for space applications and Frontgrade™ Gaisler Technologies, a leading provider of high-reliability electronic solutions for space and national security missions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, Germany. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in developing and validating advanced on-board computing architectures designed to increase the autonomy and resilience of future space missions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251118359687/en/ As satellite operators and mission designers increasingly rely on on-board data processing and autonomy, maintaining fault tolerance and reliability has become a critical priority. To meet these demands, modern spacecraft integrates radiation-hardened components and advanced FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery) systems that ensure stable oper
ACE Fiber uses Adtran’s Mosaic One Clarity AI solution for proactive assurance, faster resolution and fewer truck rolls18.11.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
News summary: Mississippi provider’s fiber expansion increased operational complexity, driving the need for quicker troubleshooting and fewer site visits With Adtran’s Mosaic One Clarity, built on its REAL AI platform, ACE Fiber is transforming operations to prevent issues and reduce costs Early results show up to 75% fewer tickets in the first month, cutting service calls and improving customer experiences Adtran today announced that ACE Fiber, the broadband subsidiary of Mississippi’s ACE Power, is using its Mosaic One Clarity solution, built on the REAL AI platform, to move from reactive troubleshooting to proactive assurance across ACE Fiber’s expanding network. Mosaic One Clarity consolidates network and in-home data, identifies likely root causes and provides guided actions that help teams resolve issues faster and avoid unnecessary site visits. By detecting early signs of fiber performance issues and showing which subscribers are affected, Mosaic One Clarity enables more right-f
Sharjah Emerges as a Global Hub for Medical Innovation and Collaborative R&D18.11.2025 13:55:00 CET | Press release
In the United Arab Emirates, where cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai consistently rank among the world's most forward-thinking, the Emirate of Sharjah, the country's cultural and knowledge capital, has decisively positioned itself as a premier hub for research and innovations in healthcare. This transformation is primarily driven by the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) formerly SRTIP, SRTI Park. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251118121763/en/ SPARK Headquarters (SPARK HQ) (Photo: AETOSWire) This ambition was powerfully demonstrated during the recent "Sharjah Next: Healthcare" forum, which transcended a typical conference, evolving into a powerful statement of intent. It assembled a host of global healthcare luminaries, including Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, a pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery; Professor Humaid Obaid Al-Shamsi, a leading Emirati oncologist; and Dr. Vladimir Ivkovic of Harv
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom