Celltrion and Nan Fung Group together have established Vcell Healthcare Limited, a joint venture (JV) company between both parties.
 
At the formation of the JV, Vcell Healthcare has simultaneously signed a licensing agreement with Celltrion. Vcell will obtain the exclusive rights in mainland China to develop, manufacture and commercialize three US. .FDA and EMA approved biosimilar products from Celltrion: CT-P13 (Remsima), CT-P10 (Truxima) and CT-P6 (Herzuma). Remsima, referencing Remicade (Infliximab), was the first antibody biosimilar approved in the EU and U.S. Remsima has been commercialized in more than 80 countries worldwide. Truxima, referencing Rituxan (Rituximab), has been approved in the US. .and EU; and Herzuma, referencing Herceptin (Trastuzumab), has been approved in the U.S., the EU and Japan.
 
Vcell said it aims to launch these products in China expeditiously following the regulatory approval process. In the meantime, Celltrion and Nan Fung Group will collectively explore the opportunity to develop a world-class biologics manufacturing facility in China.
 
"We are extremely excited about the establishment of Vcell Healthcare Limited, which will serve as the cornerstone for our entry into the Chinese market,” said Seo Jung-Jin, chairman, Celltrion Group. “We will make our best efforts to start business in China as soon as possible and provide Chinese patients with our outstanding biosimilar products which have already been approved in the global markets such as the U.S., Europe, and South Korea."
 
Antony Leung, chairman and chief executive officer, Nan Fung Group, said, "China has huge unmet medical needs for high quality drugs with affordable prices. We hope Vcell Healthcare Limited could bring world-class biosimilar products to benefit Chinese patients and establish a state of the art manufacturing base in China to serve the growing demand for high quality CDMOs in the country."