- Policy
- NHI billing soars and brings down Xeljanz price by 9%
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Nov 30, 2019 05:50am
- Starting from next month, reimbursed price of Pfizer Korea’s Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor Xeljanz (5 mg) is to be lowered by 9 percent. The treatment is now included as subject for price-volume agreement (PVA), because the actual insurance billing amount was surged by 30 percent than the initially estimated amount. Also for Allergan Korea
- Policy
- Price competition for Donepezil’s generics is high
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Nov 29, 2019 07:06am
- Pharmaceutical companies with Donepezil have lowered their reimubrsement premium caps and intensified price competition. This time, drugs that voluntarily lowered were dropped from 36% to 67% below the current price. This would be less than one-third of the highest price. LG Chem's three lines of Eutropin are expected to be subject to addi
- Policy
- Lupus drug 'BENLYSTA' opened rehabilitation path
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Nov 29, 2019 06:33am
- There is now a way to recover the lupus drug, Benlysta, which is at risk of withdrawal due to failure to meet postmarketing (PMS) criteria. The MFDS decided to use the drug as a RMP (Risk Management Plan) after long discussion of the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council and continue to use it for patients to monitor side effects. Acco
- Policy
- Dantrolene designated as emergency drug at KRW 95K
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Nov 28, 2019 09:39pm
- 20 mg injection of Dantrolen, used for malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), was designated as an emergency treatment and its insurance reimbursed price would be maintained at around 95,000 won. According to pharmaceutical industry source on Nov. 26, Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) is planning to update t
- Policy
- Gazyva applied Moon Care policy’s selective health benefits
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Nov 27, 2019 11:06pm
- Roche's Gazyva(Obinutuzumab), a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment, will be converted into a selective reimbursement benefit in accordance with Moon Jae-in Care's ‘Non-benefit’ policy. The implementation date is December 15. The Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service announced that it would revise the details of the criteria
- Policy
- Clinical trial coverage on standard therapy and IND
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Nov 26, 2019 10:52pm
- Insurance coverage would be granted on both investigational new drug and standard treatment simultaneously used in an anticancer treatment clinical trial. Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) presented a revised standard of healthcare insurance reimbursement on anticancer treatment in clinical trial on Nov. 4. From last
- Policy
- Ahn-gook’s first Galvus generic approved
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Nov 26, 2019 07:16am
- Ahn-gook Pharmaceutical (“Ahn-gook”) received an approval on the first generic version of a DPP-4 inhibiting antidiabetic treatment, Galvus (vildagliptin). The Ahn-gook’s approval got the industry’s attention as it challenged the original’s patent and shortened the patent’s term. On Nov. 22, Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- Policy
- 13 drugs containing Nizatidine were banned for sale
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Nov 26, 2019 07:15am
- 13 gastrointestinal drugs containing 'Nizatidine' which had been covered by health insurance, now are not available on the 22nd. The MFDS and the HIRA said that on the 22nd, they took action that Nizatidine medicines are not prescribed or dispensed by hospitals, clinics or pharmacies, from the midnight, prescriptions and dispensing were blo
- Policy
- MOHW lukewarm about Epilepsy Patient Support Bill
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Nov 26, 2019 07:12am
- ‘Epilepsy Patient Support Bill’ is at stake due to a dispute over feasibility of a bill specifically accommodating a certain disease. The National Assembly lawmakers and the government are contemplating on passing an individual bill for a disease as it could trigger other patients to demand bills for their disease, and cause confusion
- Policy
- A transition of power? Xofluza landed in Korea
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Nov 26, 2019 07:12am
- Flu medicines, which have been greatly improved in convenience, have landed in Korea. It is Roche's Xofluza (Baloxavir marboxil). It is expected to see the effects of flu treatment with only a single dose. The oseltamivir formulations, represented by conventional Tamiflu, had to be taken for 5 days. With Tamiflu's patent expiration in 2017
