Celgene’s Otezla Shines, On Track To Be A Fourth Blockbuster Pillar

Sales of the psoriasis drug increased 170% in the second quarter to $242m, giving the blood cancer specialist a strong anchor as it looks to expand in inflammation and immunology.

Celgene Corp.’s psoriasis drug Otezla (apremilast) is expected to become a blockbuster seller this year, surpassing sales of $1bn, management said during the company’s second quarter sales and earnings call July 28. The drug would become the company’s fourth blockbuster franchise and the first outside of Celgene’s specialty in oncology.

Otezla generated sales of $242m in the quarter, a 170% increase over the second quarter a year ago. The oral drug was approved in the US and Europe to treat active psoriatic arthritis and moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in 2014 and is a key product in the company’s strategy to expand beyond its cornerstone therapy Revlimid (lenalidomide)

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Strategy

Deal Watch: Lilly Looks To Creyon For Oligonucleotides

 
• By 

Plus deals involving J&J/Addex/Sinntaxis, Concentra/Kronos, Granata/Oviva, Coeptis/Z Squared, Ligand/Channel and more.

Accelerated Approval May Be Out Of Reach For PTC’s Huntington’s Drug

 
• By 

PTC said its updated Phase II data for PTC 518 met the primary endpoint of Huntingtin’s protein reduction, but analysts said there isn’t clear correlation with clinical benefit.

AstraZeneca COPD Drug Breztri Breezes Through Asthma Trials

 
• By 

The triple therapy improves lung function in the Phase III KALOS and LOGOS studies

Biogen’s Manufacturing Sites, Revenue Sources Protect It From Big Tariff Impact

 
• By 

Biogen expects little impact from existing tariffs and any that may apply if the US exemption of pharma products is lifted, since 75% of its manufacturing is in the US and 55% of sales are ex-US.

More from Business

Finance Watch: Unity Lays Off All Employees As It Evaluates Alternatives

 
• By 

Restructuring Edition: Unity unveiled more Phase IIb data for lead asset UBX1325 along with plans to shed its workforce while seeking a partner for it and other drugs. Also, Ono is consolidating US employees at one site, Entrada is cutting its workforce by 20% and other recent strategic shifts.

Pharma Predicts Modest Impact From Tariffs, But It Depends On What Comes Next

 

Drugmakers aren’t expecting a big financial hit from tariffs for now, but a report commissioned by PhRMA suggests the cost of pharma-sector tariffs could be steep.

OPPI’s Matai On Section 3(d) Of India’s Patent Regulations: Now’s The Time To Open Up

 

Anil Matai, director general, Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, talks in this audio interview about the evolving intellectual property landscape in India post the 2024 amendments, including long-standing sticking points such as Section 3(d) of India’s patent regulations and innovator firms' experience of the Bolar provision. There’s also a "compelling reason" to consider regulatory data protection, he claims.