South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion announced on Thursday that it has signed a second major contract with a leading U.S. pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), expanding private insurance coverage for its autoimmune disease treatment, Steqeyma (ustekinumab).
Starting July 1, Steqeyma will be eligible for reimbursement under the newly signed PBM deal. This move is expected to significantly improve patient access to the drug across the United States.
The new agreement follows a previous contract signed on April 3 with one of the top three PBMs in the country. Together, the two deals give Steqeyma a strong presence in both public and private insurance formularies.
With these partnerships, Celltrion now covers nearly 30% of the U.S. pharmaceutical insurance market—an impressive achievement just one month after launching Steqeyma in the U.S.
Celltrion has already built credibility in the American healthcare sector with its earlier autoimmune treatments, Zymfentra and Yuflyma. The company plans to use its growing portfolio to create bundled marketing strategies, further boosting its competitive edge.
According to pharmaceutical research firm IQVIA, the global market for ustekinumab reached $21.6 billion in 2024, with the U.S. accounting for nearly 77% of that figure.
Celltrion said it will continue to work closely with doctors, insurers, and patient organizations to ensure broader access to Steqeyma across the country.
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