JW Pharma Hemlibra will be reimbursed starting in May

Chinese anticancer drug Brukinsa also will be reimbursed from health insurance for rare blood cancer

JW Pharma's Hemlibra will also be covered for patients with severe non-antibody hemophilia A from May.

 

Previously, this drug was covered only for hemophilia A patients with antibodies.

 

This increase in coverage is expected to greatly contribute to the quality of life of patients with severe non-antibody hemophilia A, especially pediatric patients.

 

According to the industry on the 21st, Hemlibra has been used as a daily prophylaxis to reduce or prevent bleeding frequency in patients with severe hemophilia A (congenital factor VIII deficiency) who do not have factor VIII inhibitors since May.

 

Even if you use it, the salary will be applied.

 

In other words, severe hemophilia A patients without antibodies can receive health insurance benefits when using Hemlibra.

 

In the meantime, non-antibody hemophilia patients have been using intravenous treatment two to three times a week.

 

Hemlibra is expected to be more convenient than existing intravenous treatments because the preventive effect lasts with subcutaneous injections from once a week to once every 4 weeks.

 

In particular, it is analyzed that it will help improve the quality of life of pediatric patients.

 

In the parliamentary audit last year, the rapid payment of Hemlibra for pediatric patients with non-antibody hemophilia was also an issue.

 

According to the 2019 Hemophilia Foundation White Paper, among a total of 1,746 patients with hemophilia A in Korea, 78 were antibody patients and 1589 non-antibody patients were resistant to the existing treatment (factor 8 drug).

 

Among them, severely ill patients accounted for 1259 (72.1%).

 

Hemlibra is a treatment for hemophilia A developed by Chugai, a subsidiary of Roche, in Japan.

 

This time, Hemlibra's drug price will be reduced as reimbursement increases.

 

The 30mg/1mL product is adjusted to 2.28 million won per bottle, 60mg/0.4mL to 4.56 million won, 90mg/0.6mL to 6.84 million won, 0.105g/0.7mL to 7.98 million won, and 0.15g/1mL to 11.4 million won.

 

From May, Chinese pharmaceutical company BeiGene's anti-cancer drug 'Brukinsa 80mg' will be covered.

 

This drug is reimbursed for the treatment of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM).

 

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare blood cancer in which the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells.

 

The US FDA approved Brukinsa as a treatment for WM in September 2021.

 

In Korea, it is attracting attention as it is the first case in which a Chinese new drug entered the right to benefit.

 

Brukinsa is priced at 34,100 won per capsule.

 

Expenditure cap RSA is applied to this drug.