Celltrion is accelerating its push into Europe’s biosimilar market as Omlyclo, its first-to-market omalizumab biosimilar, gains traction in Spain following a series of public tender wins in key regions.
The South Korea–based biopharmaceutical company said its Spanish unit was selected as the top-ranked supplier in a major public procurement tender in Catalonia late last year, marking the product’s first significant tender success in the country. Catalonia, home to Barcelona, is Spain’s largest omalizumab market due to its dense population and concentration of major hospitals.
The tender is jointly administered by the region’s central procurement body and its largest public healthcare provider, covering public hospitals and medical institutions across Catalonia. Industry officials view the win as both commercially meaningful and symbolically important, given the scale and visibility of the procurement.
Momentum has continued beyond Catalonia. Celltrion secured additional supply contracts in the Basque Country after being named the top bidder in tenders covering all public healthcare institutions in the region, with supply agreements finalized in January. The consecutive wins suggest that Celltrion’s direct-sales strategy in Europe—led by its regional subsidiary rather than local partners—is gaining practical traction in competitive markets.
The company expects the results in Spain’s two core regions to bolster its prospects in upcoming tenders elsewhere. Celltrion has already participated in additional omalizumab tenders this year in regions including Valencia and Asturias, signaling an aggressive effort to establish an early foothold nationwide.
Since launching Omlyclo through a direct-sales model in Spain last September, Celltrion has expanded distribution through both regional government tenders and individual hospital contracts. The drug is now prescribed across roughly 260 public and private hospitals nationwide, according to the company.
Celltrion is stepping up marketing efforts aimed at hospitals, physicians, procurement agencies and regional governments to accelerate switching from the originator product to its biosimilar, betting that price competitiveness and supply reliability will resonate in cost-conscious public healthcare systems.
The company plans to replicate its Spanish playbook across Europe. Early indicators from other markets have been encouraging. In Norway, where Omlyclo was first launched, the drug captured a 17% market share in its first full quarter, according to IQVIA data. In the Netherlands, home to the European Medicines Agency, Celltrion has secured hospital-group tenders covering roughly 70% of the market’s supply volume.
“Omlyclo’s first-mover status, combined with stable supply and differentiated competitiveness, is allowing us to rapidly expand our presence in Spain’s omalizumab market while improving patient access to treatment,” said Kang Seok-hoon, head of Celltrion’s Spanish subsidiary. He added that prescription growth is expected to accelerate as newly awarded public tenders move into full-scale supply.
