- Opinion
- [Reporter's View] Switching of drugs reimbursable
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 6, 2025 05:57am
- When a patient chooses one medication and switches to another, reimbursement does not cover the latter. Non-reimbursable drug switching has been a long-standing issue in South Korea. At the end of last year, a long-standing issue in one field was resolved. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) granted approval for drug switching for p
- Policy
- Zolgensma shows 94% effect during post-evaluations
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 6, 2025 05:56am
- The spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) showed promising results suited to its high price. The use of the once-daily, one-shot treatment, which has an insurance cap set at KRW 2, requires a post-marketing evaluation to measure its cost-effectiveness. According to industry sources on the 5th, Z
- Company
- 1st RSV preventive inj 'Beyfortus' can be prescribed
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 6, 2025 05:56am
- The first injectable antibody drug approved in South Korea to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 'Beyfortus,' is now available for prescription at general hospitals. According to industry sources, Sanofi Korea's Beyfortus (nirsevimab) has passed the drug committees (DC) of medical centers, including Seoul National University Hospi
- Company
- Balversa may be prescribed at general hospitals in Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 6, 2025 05:56am
- The new bladder cancer drug Balversa may now be prescribed in Korea’s Big 5 tertiary hospitals in Korea. According to industry sources, Janssen Korea's FGFR-inhibiting urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) drug Balversa (erdafitinib) recently passed the drug committees (DCs) of tertiary hospitals including Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Na
- Policy
- MFDS’s 2nd GIFT drug Nefecon applies for reimbursement
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 6, 2025 05:56am
- Nefecon (micronized budesonide), the only drug approved by the U.S. FDA to treat lgA (immunoglobulin A) nephropathy, has applied for domestic health insurance reimbursement coverage in Korea. The drug was approved in November last year as its 2nd GIFT (Global Innovative Drug Fast Track) drug, MFDS’s fast track program. According to in
- Company
- Lily's 'Jaypirca' launches in KOR
- by Whang, byung-woo Jan 3, 2025 06:28am
- Lily Korea announced on January 2 that Jaypirca (ingredient name: pirtobrutinib), a treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), was launched in South Korea on December 26. To date, Jaypirca is the first reversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor of any kind. Jaypirca was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Saftey (MFDS) i
- Company
- Will Fabhalta settle as a PNH treatment option in Korea?
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 3, 2025 06:27am
- Whether another PNH treatment option will be born is gaining attention in Korea. According to industry sources, Novartis Korea has submitted a reimbursement application for its oral paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) treatment Fabhalta (iptacopan). PNH is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of 1.5 per million people world
- Policy
- 'Pivlaz Inj' makes another attempt to be reimb in KOR
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 3, 2025 06:27am
- 'Pivlaz Inj,' which is supplied·distributed in South Korea by Handok, has been submitted for another attempt at reimbursement. The marketing authorization for Pivlaz was approved in South Korea in December 2023. Then, the company applied for reimbursement but voluntarily withdrew the reimbursement application in June 2024. According t
- Policy
- New Year's drug pricing policy highlights
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 3, 2025 06:27am
- The new drug pricing system in 2025 is expected to be volatile due to Korea’s political turmoil. Whether the external reference pricing reevaluations and re-evaluation of the listed PE exemption drugs, which were reviewed or discussed last year, will be carried out this year is also the focus of attention. However, as most of the detai
- Policy
- Prices for Vyndamax, Ocrevus in negotiations with NHIS
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 3, 2025 06:27am
- Pfizer's cardiomyopathy drug Vyndamax Cap and Roche's multiple sclerosis drug Ocrevus Inj are undergoing drug price negotiations with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in Korea. Therefore, it will be interesting to see if the drugs will be able to finalize negotiations and their reimbursement listing agenda be submitted to the He
