George Steuart Health partners with Celltrion Healthcare to launch first-ever Biosimilar in Sri Lank

From left: Lenin Samuel (Manager), Spencer Chung (Head of South East Asian Region- Celltrion Healthcare), Prof. Jorgen Jahnsen (Senior Consultant – Akershus University Hospital, Norway), Dilith Jayaweera (Group Chairman – George Steuart & Company), Erandajith Ranasinghe (Executive Director – George Steuart Health), Dr. Nam Lee (Head of Medical Science Liason Team – Celltrion Healthcare), Alice J Shin (Regional Manager for Sri Lanka – Celltrion Healthcare), Sumith Dalpethado (Senior Director – George Steuart Health) and Dr. Rishi Goel (Consultant – Kingston University, London)

George Steuart Health recently launched the world’s first biosimilar known as Remsima (Infliximab), approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. The launch was held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo recently and was attended by key opinion leaders representing vital segments of the medical industry including Rheumatology, Gastroenterology and Dermatology.

George Steuart Health, which prides itself on delivering innovative healthcare solutions, tied up with Celltrion Healthcare in Korea to introduce the product to the Sri Lankan Market. Celltrion Healthcare is a center for excellence for innovative biologics with the largest mAb (monoclonal antibodies) production facility in Asia and an extensive global network spanning across 120 countries.

Commenting on the significance of the launch, George Steuart Health Executive Director Eran Ranasinghe said: “We have successfully established a new era in the medical field of Sri Lanka. It is a significant milestone in the history of George Steuart Health, which stands committed to delivering only the best healthcare solutions at the most affordable prices.” 

Partnering with over 40 acclaimed manufacturing entities worldwide, the company now represents more than 400 quality products that cater to the wellbeing of Sri Lankans.

Guest Speaker at the event, Dr. Nam Lee, Head of the Medical Liaison Team at Celltrion, spoke on ‘Clinical Evidence of Biosimilars,’ highlighting the differences between Biosmilars and other biologicals. She proceeded to explain the equivalence study comparing Remsima and the reference medical product in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Dr. Rishi Goel, Consultant in Gastroenterology at the Kingston Hospital (London), shared his experience of real world cases on switching to Remsima from the RMP. Senior Consultant and Head of Research, Department of Gastroenterology, Akershus University Hospital (Norway) Prof. Jorgen Jahnsen also shared his experience on the successful use of Remsima on patients with IBD, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. 

Remsima is the world’s first monoclonal antibody approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. It contains biosimilar infliximab as a powder concentrate for solution as well as infusion and has revolutionised the management of debilitating autoimmune diseases at a considerably lower cost. The product is indicated for use in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Ulcerative Colitis. 

George Steuart Health is one of Sri Lanka’s premier healthcare and wellness solution providers and is a member of the George Steuart Group; Sri Lanka’s oldest mercantile establishment and a leading diversified conglomerate.