Reduced drug price by expanding the scope of Abraxane

including Zytiga 500mg

The MOHW promotes revision of drug benefit list on April 1

Celgene's anticancer drug Abraxane (Paclitaxel) is expected to cut the drug price by 3.6% next month as the scope of use is expanded.

 

Janssen Korea's prostate cancer treatment Zytiga 500mg (Abiraterone Acetate) is subject to a 5% cut rate due to an additional indication, and advance drug price cuts are being promoted.

 

Takeda Pharmaceutical Korea's lymphoma treatment Adcetris (Brentuximab Vedotin) and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treatment Alunbrig (Brigatinib) dropped 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively.

 

The MOHW is promoting the revision of the drug reimbursement list as of April 1.

 

◆Preliminary drug price reduction due to expansion of the scope of use = The government will lower the drug price in advance, taking into account the expected additional billing amount and the rate of increase in billing amount for drugs that expand the range of use by adding indications.

 

In the case of the estimated additional charge of ￦7.5 billion or more and less than ￦10 billion, the amount will be reduced from 3.6% to 5%, depending on the increase rate of the claim.

 

A total of two items to be promoted for this advance drug price cut are Celgene's anticancer drug Abraxane and Janssen Korea's prostate cancer drug Zytiga 500mg.

 

First, Abraxane has been previously approved by the government and has been used as Paclitaxel+Carboplatin+RT for esophageal cancer prior chemotherapy, although limited.

 

It will be converted to next month's benefit, and the drug price has been cut in advance in consideration of an increase in the amount charged.

 

The price is expected to be set at ￦260,960, down 3.6% from the current ￦27,705.

 

In the case of Zytiga 500mg, Docetaxel + ADT combination therapy and Zytiga + Prednisolone + ADT combination therapy are also recognized as benefits for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, and advance drug price reduction is promoted.

 

However, the patient's copayment is a selective benefit for 30/100 for Zytiga.

 

The price is expected to be reduced by 5% from the current ￦20,090 to ￦19,086.

 

◆Voluntary price reduction by companies = The government adjusts the insurance drug price by calculating the item with that amount when a company applies for a reduction at a price lower than the upper limit of the listed drugs.

 

There are a total of six items scheduled for voluntary price reduction.

 

Takeda Korea’s Adcetris drops by 1.4% and Alunbrig (Brigatinib) 30mg/90mg/180mg products drop by 1.5%.

 

Intro Bio Pharma's Icept 5mg (Donepezil HCl) will be reduced by 71.8% and Icept (Donepezil HCl) 10mg will be reduced by 64.6%.