Celltrion Healthcare said Thursday that it recorded sales of 420.3 billion won ($335.1 million) in the second quarter, up 48 percent from the same period in 2019. The company also registered 86.8 billion and 46.4 billion won in operating and net profit, up a drastic 838 and 448 percent over the cited period.

Celltrion Healthcare posted record profits in the second quarter despite the Covid-19 outbreak. (Celltrion)

"Celltrion Healthcare is continuing to grow every quarter, achieving sales exceeding 400 billion won for the first time in the second quarter," the company said. "Notably, the sales figure is of great significance because it is a result of overcoming restrictions on the firm's sales activities, such as face-to-face marketing difficulties due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus."

The company added that the prescriptions for most of its products steadily expanded, with sales increasing globally, including Europe, North America and Asia.

"Notably, U.S. sales for Truxima, a biosimilar for the treatment of blood cancer, have increased significantly," the company said. "According to Symphony Health, a U.S. healthcare information service company, Truxima occupied the 16.4-percent share in the U.S. market in June after launching the drug in November last year."

The firm expects its sales growth to continue. It gained sales approval for Remsima SC from the European Commission (EC) for all indications in July.

"Remsima SC is attracting attention as a treatment that can minimize infection in the current Covid-19 situation as it can be self-administered at home," the company said. "We plan to launch the drug in five major European countries such as France, Italy, and Spain, in the second half of this year."

A company official said, "As our flagship products require continuous prescriptions taking into account the patient's condition, demand has continued to rise even during the Covid-19 outbreak."

By operating an emergency business system to respond to Covid-19, the company was able to supply medicines globally without any disruptions, he added.

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