LIVZON and Qilu Enter the $700M Voriconazole Market on the Same Day, Emerging as Strong Competitors to Pfizer

Yiyao.com, October 15 – According to data from the CDE official website on October 14, Livzon and Qilu Pharmaceutical respectively submitted Class 4 generic marketing applications for voriconazole for injection, both of which were accepted. Voriconazole is the top-selling systemic antifungal agent. Under continuous pressure from domestic generics, market leader Pfizer’s share in the Chinese market has dwindled to just 40%.

 

Figure 1: Registration Status of Voriconazole for Injection Submitted by Livzon and Qilu Pharmaceutical

Source: CDE Official Website

 

Figure 2: Competitive Landscape of Voriconazole Manufacturers in 2019

Source: Competitive Landscape at the Terminal of China's Public Medical Institutions, Menet Network

 

Data from Menet shows that in China's urban publicHospitalIn the market for systemic antifungal drugs at terminals of county-level public hospitals, urban community health centers, and township health centers (hereinafter referred to as Chinese public medical institutions), voriconazole ranked as the top product with sales exceeding RMB 5 billion. In terms of dosage forms, injections accounted for 55.59%, tablets for 37.43%, and capsules for 6.98%; leadingEnterprisePfizer’s dominance has been eroding since 2015, with its market share declining steadily from 49.98% to 45.70% in 2019.

 

Figure 3: Current Status of Enterprises with Production Approval for Voriconazole for Injection

Source: One-click Search

 

Currently, in addition to Upjohn (a subsidiary of Pfizer), the enterprises that have obtained production approval for voriconazole for injection include Zhuhai Yibang Pharmaceutical, Jincheng Haisi Pharmaceutical, Sichuan Meidakang Huakang Pharmaceutical, and Livzon Pharmaceutical Factory of Livzon Group. At present, no enterprise has passed the consistency evaluation.

 

Livzon’s current filing is most likely for a new specification product. In addition to Qilu Pharmaceutical’s recent entry into the competitive landscape, Fuan Pharmaceutical Group Yantai Zhichu Pharmaceutical’s Class 4 generic marketing application, submitted on October 10, has been accepted. Currently, the marketing applications under review involve Wuhan Qirui Pharmaceutical, Hainan Better Pharmaceutical, and Nanjing Simcere Dongyuan Pharmaceutical.

 

Source: Menet Database, CDE Official Website