Expansion of insurance coverage for diabetes drugs

SGLT2+DPP4 2 systems are likely to be discussed

3 drugs, including Metformin, will be covered from April

SGLT-2 inhibitory antidiabetic drugs (from left: Forxiga, Jardiance, Xigduo XR, Jardiance Duo)

While the combination benefit between SGLT-2 diabetes treatment and other treatments is expected to be applied from April, the two-drug regimen between SGLT2 and DPP4, which was omitted from the current discussion, is also expected to be reviewed.

 

It is expected that if the SGLT2+DDP4 complex is applied for reimbursement, it will naturally be sorted out through discussion.

 

According to the industry on the 23rd, some SGLT2+DPP4 combinations have applied for reimbursement to the HIRA.

 

It is known that AstraZeneca's 'Qtern', Boehringer Ingelheim's Esglito, and LG Chem's SGLT-2 inhibitory antidiabetic drugs (from left: Forxiga, Jardiance, Xigduo XR, Jardiance Duo) applied for benefits.

 

MSD's Steglujan is also expected to apply for benefits sooner or later.

 

These items are being promoted to be registered as a benefit in time for April when the benefit is expanded.

 

This is because they are products developed by the original developer of original ingredients, so they can be registered as products regardless of patents.

 

However, 82 products of Dapagliflozin + Sitagliptin approved by domestic pharmaceutical companies are scheduled to be registered after September 1, when the substance patent for Sitagliptin (Januvia) expires.

 

While pharmaceutical companies with combination drugs welcome the news of an increase in reimbursement, attention is focused on whether reimbursement for two-drug combination therapy is also applied.

 

The concomitant benefit drugs currently being discussed for benefit expansion are triple therapy such as metformin + SGLT-2 + DPP-4, metformin + SGLT-2 + TZD, and some SGLT-2 items + sulfonylurea or insulin combination therapy.

 

This is because the 2+DPP-4 two-drug regimen is missing.

 

If the benefit expansion plan is applied as planned, the two-drug combination of SGLT2 + DPP4 should be used as a three-drug regimen with Metformin.

 

As SGLT2 or DPP4 drugs are currently used alone, the pharmaceutical industry insists that these two-drug therapies should also be covered.

 

The HIRA believes that if the SGLT2+DPP4 complex is applied, it is highly likely that the second drug will also be reviewed.

 

An official from The HIRA said, “If a two-drug combination drug is applied for, we will not organize traffic regarding whether or not the second drug will be covered.” There is," he explained.

 

If the review of whether or not to pay for the second system is prolonged, it cannot be ruled out that the third system will be started first, and whether or not the second system will be covered will be discussed later.

 

Judging from the discussion so far, the three-drug combination of metformin + SGLT2 + DPP4 is advantageous in terms of ease of administration, but there are currently no domestically approved drugs.