Hokunalin Patch has been removed from Korea’s reimbursement

Only domestic generic versions remain

More pharmaceutical companies withdraw their products...due to deteriorating profitability

Item’s marketing authorization expired in January

Hokunalin Patch, asthma and bronchitis deodorant based on tulobuterol, will be removed from the reimbursement list.

 

The move was made upon the expiry of the item’s marketing authorization last month.

 

As a result, only domestic generic versions of the drug are available in South Korea.

 

According to industry sources on Jan.

 

22, Abbott's 3 versions of Hokunalin Patch (0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg) will be removed from the reimbursement list on Jan.

 

1 next month.

 

The drug's domestic license expired on Jan.

 

1.

 

The medication is an adhesive strip that is applied to the skin.

 

It is characterized by its 24-hour effectiveness after a single application.

 

In particular, it is used for infants and children suffering from asthma as well as acute and chronic bronchitis, as it has fewer side effects than oral medications and can be used from the age of 6 months.

 

Abbott has already announced that it will discontinue the domestic supply of Hokunalin in 2022.

 

The reasons included the end of the contract with the manufacturer and the rising cost of raw materials.

 

However, the company had maintained the domestic marketing authorization for the drug, and with the expiration of the license and the removal from the reimbursement list, Hokunalin Patch will disappear into history.

 

However, there is a six-month grace period before August 1 to apply for insurance reimbursement benefits.

 

The withdrawal of Hokunalin from the domestic market was also due to the emergence of generic drugs.

 

Generic versions of the drug have been available since 2010, and 19 pharmaceutical companies currently maintain licenses.

 

The use of Tulobuterol Patch has been increasing due to the recent surge in respiratory diseases.

 

In response, the government designated the transdermal tulobuterol patch as a national essential medicine in November 2023.

 

In addition, in March last year, the upper insurance price limit was raised by up to 27.2% to address the supply-demand imbalance.

 

However, the field reports that there is still a shortage of tulobuterol deodorant.

 

The number of products being withdrawn is also increasing.

 

From August 2023 to January this year, 21 products from nine pharmaceutical companies did not renew their licenses.

 

“Tulobuterol patch is a product with a high production cost and not much profit,” said an industry official.

 

”Recently, the price of raw materials has risen, and due to intensified competition between generic companies, more and more companies are leaving.”