Liporaxel face hurdles due to high price
<KOREA> Asthma drug Xolair, psoriasis drug risankizumab, and anti-cancer drug abemaciclib will likely to receive insurance reimbursement.
The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service(HIRA) held the 3rd Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee in 2020 and deliberated on the appropriation of medical care benefits for drugs applied by four pharmaceutical companies.
The 3rd Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee(DREC) proceeded on a two-day(3~4 days) written review on an exceptional basis in accordance with the operating guidelines for government and local events related to Corona Virus Disease-19.
According to the HIRA on 6th, the DREC concluded that reimbursement is appropriate for three items of Novartis’ Xolair Injection, Xolair Prefilled Syringe Injection 75, Xolair Prefilled Syringe Injection 150.
These products are allergic asthma treatments, which are the main ingredient of omalizumab, and are approved for use in adults and adolescents(12 years and older) and children aged 6 to 12 years.
The DREC also acknowledged that the health insurance coverage is appropriate for Abbvie psoriasis treatment Skyrizi Prefilled Syringe Injection(risankizumab) because it has both clinical efficacy and affordability.
Skyrizi was approved in Korea on December 3 last year for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy(including biological therapy) or phototherapy. It covered by insurance after three months of authorization.
Three dosage of Lilly anti-cancer drug Verzenio Tablet(abemaciclib), which authorized for marketing in last May, also were passed the review process of the DREC.
Verzenio is indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor(HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-negative, advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
There will be insurance drug price negotiations for products, including Xolair, which were evaluated as appropriate for reimbursement by DREC. If a settlement is reached between the National Health Insurance Service and manufacturers and importers, the drugs will be covered by health insurance according to the notice of the minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Meanwhile, the DREC evaluated the Liporaxel Sol(paclitaxel) applied by DAEHWA Pharm is appropriate for the reimbursement if it accepts less than assessed amount. Although the clinical effectiveness of the drug is acknowledged, it is difficult to cover by insurance due to the high price.
In this case, if a pharmaceutical company accepts a lower drug price that suggested by the authority, the appropriation of benefits may be recognized. On the other hand, if it is not accepted, it remains a non-covered drug.
Liporaxel Sol is indicated for treatment of advanced and metastatic or locally recurrent gastric cancer.
