US-based FibroGen Inc. (FGEN) has released its Q4 2022 financial results. The company reported global revenues of USD 34.4 million in Q4, up from USD 16.4 million a year ago. For the 12 months, revenues reached USD 140.7 million, down from USD 235.3 million in 2021, when revenues were boosted by a USD 120 million payment from Astellas related to the EU approval of roxadustat.
Roxadustat: Commercial Performance
Roxadustat remains FibroGen’s only commercial-stage product. The molecule has been approved in China, Europe, Japan, and several other regions for the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients on dialysis (DD) and not on dialysis (NDD). The drug is also under development for the treatment of anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).
China Market Performance
In China, FibroGen reported revenues from roxadustat of USD 23.4 million in Q4, marking a 328% year-on-year (YOY) increase. Over the 12 months, revenues reached USD 82.9 million, up 74% YOY. The joint venture between FibroGen and AstraZeneca for roxadustat’s promotion reported full-year sales of USD 208.8 million, up 12% YOY, driven by an 80% expansion in volumes following national reimbursement coverage. Roxadustat continues to be China’s number one brand for anemia in CKD patients.
Strategic Implications
The strong performance of roxadustat in China highlights the drug’s market potential and the effectiveness of FibroGen’s partnership with AstraZeneca. The increase in revenues, particularly in the Chinese market, demonstrates the growing demand for effective treatments for anemia in CKD patients. FibroGen’s focus on expanding roxadustat’s indications and markets is expected to drive further growth in the coming years.-Fineline Info & Tech
