6 new drugs newly listed or expanded coverage in 2021 so far

Pharmaceutical reimbursement list update as of April 2021

5 newly listed drugs to benefit 60,196 patients

According to the next month’s update for the pharmaceutical reimbursement list, total five items would be newly listed and improve patient access.

 

And one already-listed drug gets to expand coverage.

 

It is a result of enhancing the coverage based on social importance and patient needs.

 

The South Korean government projected total 60,196 patients in the country would benefit from those drugs, costing them about 51.4 billion won annually.

 

From January through April this year, total six pharmaceutical products have been newly listed or expanded coverage standard.

 

January had none, but from February, the coverage on a Parkinson’s disease treatment Equfina Film Coated Tablet, a glaucoma treatment Eybelis Eye Drops and an ovarian treatment Zejula capsule have been improved.

 

The coverage on Equfina Film Coated Tablet would benefit 7,000 patients a year, while costing 5.6 billion won.

 

The coverage on Eybelis Eye Drops is estimated at 4.9 billion won annually, which would benefit 45,000 patients.

 

The expanded coverage on Zejula Capsule would annually cost 2.5 billion won to provide treatment opportunity to 146 patients.

 

From this month, the patient access on a multiple myeloma treatment Ninlaro Capsule improved with newly listed reimbursement.

 

The government would spend about 9.6 billion won annually.

 

Also, a neuroendocrine tumor treatment Lutathera Injection was newly listed in the same month, costing 8.8 billion won to benefit 6,890 patients annually.

 

From Apr.

 

1, 20 billion won a year would be injected to treat 500 patients with a neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment Beovu Prefilled Syringe with reimbursement.

 

The fact that each new coverage enhancement is to benefit a range of patient size from 45,000 at most to 146 patients at least proves the South Korean government’s healthcare coverage focus is now shifting from patient size and finance to value of a drug with high demand for reimbursement.

 

It can be also interpreted as flexible policy and general social maturity to accept and provide an expanded coverage on expensive drugs used for rare disease treatment.