New drugs Zeposia, Koselugo, Trimbow are reimbursed

Dong-A ST’s antidiabetic combo ‘Sugatree XR Tab’ is also granted reimbursement

New ulcerative colitis drug .that will be reimbursed from next year

New drugs including Zeposia Cap, Koselugo Cap, and Trimbow Cap will be listed for reimbursement starting January next year.

 

In addition, Dong-A ST's diabetes combination drug ‘Sugatree XR Tab’ will also be reimbursed, and the reimbursement standards for drugs that have undergone reevaluation of their reimbursement adequacy will be adjusted as well.

 

On the 18th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it has issued an administrative notice of the 'Partial Amendment of Details on the Application Standards and Methods of Medical Benefits' that contain the matters above, for enforcement as of January 1 next year.

 

Zeposia Cap is used to treat moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis in patients who respond adequately to existing treatment or biological agents including corticosteroids, 6-Mercaptopurine, or azathioprine, or have no response, or have no resistance and are contraindicated to use such drugs.

 

Trimbow Inhaler is used in adults (over 18 years of age) to treat moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

 

In COPD, Trimbow is used for maintenance treatment in patients whose disease is not adequately controlled despite treatment with a combination of two medicines consisting of a long-acting beta-2 agonist plus either an inhaled corticosteroid or a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist.

 

In asthma, Trimbow is used for maintenance treatment in adults whose disease is not adequately controlled despite treatment with a long-acting beta-2 agonist plus a medium or high dose of inhaled corticosteroid, and who had one or more exacerbations within 12 months.

 

Koselugo is used conditionally for the treatment of pediatric patients over 3 years but 18 or below with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN).

 

The patient’s PN is regarded inoperable if the lesion cannot be surgically completely removed without risk for substantial morbidity due to: encasement of or close proximity to vital structures, invasiveness, or high vascularity of the PN.

 

Dong-A ST’s triple antidiabetic combination ‘Sugatree XR Tab’ will also be listed for reimbursement.

 

The drug is a combination of metformin hydrochloride, dapagliflozin, and evogliptin.

 

The MOHW added Sugatree’s combination to the list of dapagliflozin+sitagliptin+metformin combinations that were previously granted reimbursement as part of a metformin+SGLT2i+DPP4i regimen since April this year.

 

Meanwhile, the reimbursement standards for drugs that have undergone reevaluation of their reimbursement adequacy in 2023 will also be adjusted at the same time.

 

The results of the subject substances were presented at the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's Drug Benefits Evaluation Committee in July.

 

The drugs for which reimbursement standards will be revised are loxoprofen sodium, limaprost alfadex, and epinastine hydrochloride.

 

Loxoprofen’s antipyretic and analgesic indications for acute upper respiratory tract infections and limaprost alfadex’s indication for the treatment of ischemic symptoms of Buerger's disease will be removed from the reimbursement standards.

 

In addition, the use of epinastine hydrochloride for bronchial asthma will be removed from the reimbursement list.

 

Meanwhile, HA eye drops, which the government decided to continue discussions on its reevaluation results, will not be included in the upcoming reimbursement standard revisions.