Original for Parkinson's dz tx released are withdrawn

from Korea one after another

Suspension of supply of Mirapex ER following Madopar

Concerns about treatment gaps

Decisions are being made to withdraw from Korea one after another, citing the weakening profitability of Parkinson's disease original treatment drugs, for which generics have appeared.

 

Early this year, following Roche Korea's Madopar, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea's Mirapex ER also decided to stop supplying.

 

The problem is that existing patients have a distrust of generic drugs, so there is a concern about a treatment gap if the supply of the original drug is discontinued.

 

According to the industry on the 19th, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea recently informed the retailer that it would stop supplying Mirapex ER.

 

Accordingly, Mirapex ER 0.375mg is expected to be sold out by July 31 next year, Mirapex ER 1.5mg by February 28 next year, and Mirapex ER 0.75mg by July 31 next year.

 

However, Boehringer Ingelheim decided to maintain the supply of Mirapex.

 

Mirapex is taken three times a day and Mirapex ER is taken once a day.

 

Discontinuation of the supply of Mirapex ER, which is highly convenient, seems to be related to the entry of generics.

 

Mirapex ER started with Hyundai Pharm's Mirap ER in 2014, followed by Samil Pharm's Prapexole ER and Myeongin Pharm's PD-Pexol ER.

 

As three generic companies compete fiercely to preoccupy the market, drug prices are also falling.

 

Each generic company is widening the gap with the original drug by voluntarily lowering the drug price.

 

The profitability of original drugs has fallen due to drug price cuts following the introduction of generics, and market share is also in an emergency due to the generic offensive.

 

In the case of Pramipexole ER 0.75mg, a component of Mirapex ER, the lowest price for generics has fallen from 740 won to 707 won.

 

There is a difference of 74 won from the original price of 781 won.

 

Due to the price reduction of Mirapex ER, Mirapex taken three times a day is better than Mirapex ER in terms of profitability.

 

For this reason, some analyze that Behringer withdrew Mirapex ER and left Mirapex in the market.

 

Roche Korea's Madopar also decided to discontinue supply in January of this year after the drug price was reduced when the generic was first released in August 2021.

 

However, patients are requesting the resupply of Madopar through national petitions because generic drugs have side effects.

 

Accordingly, Roche Korea and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are seeking a way out of the controversy by extending the insurance deletion grace period from July 31 to December 31.

 

Roche has yet to make an official statement about resupply.

 

CNS drugs such as Parkinson's disease drugs are highly dependent on drugs, so there is a high preference for existing prescribed original drugs.

 

In this situation, patients' dissatisfaction is growing as original drugs are withdrawn from Korea due to profitability problems.

 

Accordingly, while some argue that drug price hikes should be considered to maintain the supply of original drugs, others oppose that the government should step forward and implement policies to increase the reliability of generic drugs.