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- 2026-04-30 12:33:02
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- Bispecific antibody opens new era of DLBCL treatment
- by Son, Hyung Min Nov 26, 2025 06:09am
- The treatment landscape for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is changing quickly. Roche's bispecific antibody, which was previously a third-line option, received an expanded indication for second-line treatment, broadening the therapeutic strategy for DLBCL. Given the aggressive nature of DLBCL, where prognosis rapidly worsens after first-line failure, there is significant attention on whether a more potent combination treatment and a new mechanism of action can increase patients' chances of survival. On November 25, Roche Korea held an event at its headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to discuss the unmet needs in the DLBCL treatment landscape and the clinical value of its new drug. Roche has already launched products in this field, including Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin) and the bispecific antibody 'Columvi (glofitamab)'. Currently, Polivy can be used as a first-line treatment in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHOP), and Columvi can be used for subsequent lines of treatment. In July, Columvi received an expanded indication from third-line to second-line treatment. The specific indication is for adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL not otherwise specified (DLBCBL NOS) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. Professor Seok Jin Kim of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Samsung Medical CenterColumvi has a 2:1 structure, in which two binding domains target the CD20 surface antigen expressed on malignant B cells, and one domain targets the CD3 antigen expressed on immune T cells. This structure allows for a more robust and stable binding. The efficacy of Columvi was confirmed through the Phase 3 STARGLO study. The trial included patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who were ineligible for ASCT after one or more prior systemic therapies, or who had a history of two or more prior systemic therapies. The two-year follow-up results demonstrated that the Columvi + gemcitabine + oxaliplatin combination therapy reduced the risk of death by 41% compared with rituximab + gemcitabine + oxaliplatin combination therapy. The Columvi combination group's Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was 13.8 months, approximately a four-fold increase from 3.6 months in the rituximab combination group. The rate of patients achieving Complete Response (CR) was higher in the Columvi combination group (58.5%) than the control group (25.3%). Professor Seok Jin Kim (President of the Korean Society of Hematology) of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Samsung Medical Center commented, "While remission can be reached, maintaining it is not easy. Patients in the Columvi combination group survived without disease progression for even one year after the end of treatment. This is a significant finding." Still high unmet needs in DLBCL…"more treatment options must be secured" DLBCL is a disease in which B cells, which protect the body, grow or multiply uncontrollably. It is the most common subtype, accounting for about 40% of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas. The disease is characterized by its aggressive nature, with rapid progression through stages. The number of DLBCL patients in South Korea was 14,183 as of last year, a 36% increase from 10,428 in 2018. Up to 15% of DLBCL patients fail to respond to the first-line standard treatment, and among those who achieve CR, 25% experience relapse within 18 months. Patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL face a rapidly deteriorating prognosis as the line of treatment increases. Seunghun Lee, Medical Lead at RochePolivy combination therapy is known to be effective in about two-thirds of patients when used as first-line treatment. However, this means that approximately one-third of patients do not benefit from first-line treatment. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies and bispecific antibodies are now available for subsequent treatment lines. Currently, second-line treatment options include Gilead's CAR-T drug 'Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel)' and the antibody drug Columvi. For the third line, Novartis's ''Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)' and AbbVie's 'Epkinly (epcoritamab)' are utilized. However, all options except Kymriah are currently non-reimbursed options. Professor Kim stressed, "CAR-T and bispecific antibodies are not to be compared directly. Patients who can tolerate the side effects choose CAR-T, and those who cannot choose the bispecific antibody. If all new drugs were reimbursed, prescribing would align with global guidelines. It is not appropriate to evaluate which drug is superior," pointing out, "The problem is that even when effective treatment options exist, patients are forced to repeat the same treatment due to regulatory approval and reimbursement hurdles." Seunghun Lee, Medical Lead at Roche, said, "The reason the U.S. FDA rejected Columvi for second-line approval was that it did not meet the criteria for the number of enrolled patients, but since it has been approved in major countries in Europe and Asia, we believe the racial differences are not significant," and emphasized, "Roche is currently strengthening its leadership by launching a variety of treatments for hematologic malignancies. We will continue to expand the range of choices in the DLBCL area to enable personalized treatment strategies for different patient groups."
- Company
- Bio investments hit 3yr high...investor sentiment recovers
- by Cha, Jihyun Nov 26, 2025 06:09am
- Venture capital (VC) new investments in the biotech and medical sectors during the third quarter of this year reached their highest level in 3 years, both in scale and proportion. Quarterly investment volume increased by 56% compared to the previous quarter, and the bio/medical VC investment share within the industry rose to 20%. This is interpreted as a clear sign of recovery of the once-frozen biotech investment market. According to the Korea Venture Capital Association on the 25th, new investments in the bio-medical sector during the third quarter totaled at KRW 396.9 billion. This is a sharp 56% increase from the previous quarter and a 20% rise compared to the same period last year. While overall new VC investments expanded by 33% quarter-on-quarter during the same period, the bio/medical sector's investment amount showed a much steeper growth trajectory, effectively driving the market’s rebound. The trend of increased investment in the bio-medical sector is also evident in the share indicators. The bio/medical sector accounted for 20% of all new VC investments in Q3, up 3 percentage points from the previous quarter. The fact that the share of bio-medical investments expanded despite the overall new investment pie growing larger quarter-on-quarter indicates a strong shift in capital toward biotechnology over other industries. As a result, new investments in the bio/medical sector this quarter reached their highest level in the past 11 quarters, both in absolute investment and share. This signals a full revival of previously subdued investment sentiment, with analysts suggesting the bio/medical investment trend has moved beyond a short-term rebound and entered a phase of structural recovery. (Source: Korea Venture Capital Association) Investment in the biotech/medical sector peaked at KRW 1.677 trillion in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been on a steep decline since. Affected by interest rate hikes and economic uncertainty, investment fell to KRW 1.1058 trillion in 2022 and further declined to KRW 884.4 billion in 2023, marking two consecutive years of contraction. The bio investment market began showing signs of a rebound last year. New investment in the bio/medical sector in 2024 reached KRW 1.0695 trillion, a 20% increase year-on-year, marking a shift in the trend. Looking at quarterly figures, the market's recovery became clearly evident last year when KRW 331.6 billion poured in during the third quarter. This recovery became even more pronounced this year. Quarterly investments have continued to rise, clearly showing that the market is in a full restoration phase. Particularly significant is this third quarter's investment volume, which significantly surpassed the record set in Q3 2024 that drove last year's rebound, but also represents the largest quarterly figure since the downturn began in 2023. The biotech industry attributes this surge in investment to: ▲ the completion of valuation adjustments, ▲ an increase in companies delivering clinical results, and ▲ expectations of interest rate cuts. Specifically, it is analyzed that VCs, who maintained a conservative stance until the first half of the year, began betting on ‘high-quality companies’ with solid technological capabilities in the second half, driven by pressure to deplete their dry powder (uncommitted investment funds). Some view the first-quarter investment cliff as having actually heightened valuation attractiveness, creating bargain-buying opportunities for companies with solid technology foundations. Looking ahead, projections suggest VC funding will enter a more pronounced phase of ‘separating the wheat from the chaff,’ focusing squarely on technological prowess. Unlike the past when investments were based solely on growth potential, the trend of capital concentrating on companies with verifiable substance—such as clinical data and commercialization feasibility—is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
- Company
- Biogen attempts Qalsody reimb listing in Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Nov 25, 2025 06:14am
- The new ALS drug Qalsody (tofersen) has begun the process of applying for reimbursement coverage in Korea. Since receiving domestic approval in August, the company has been moving rapidly to seek its reimbursement. According to industry sources, Biogen Korea’s Qalsody, a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with SOD1 (Superoxide Dismutase 1) gene mutation, is scheduled to be reviewed by the Drug Reimbursement Standard Subcommittee. Before approval, Qalsody was designated a GIFT (Global Innovative Products on Fast Track) item and as an orphan drug by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety/ However, the road ahead is expected to be rocky due to its extremely high price. In the U.S., Qalsody costs USD 15,097 per vial (approx. KRW 22.03 million), and the annual treatment cost reaches USD 211,358 (approx. KRW 308.5 million). Biogen submitted a reimbursement application immediately after approval in August, but faced its first hurdle when reviewers requested additional data. It now awaits the Reimbursement Standards Subcommittee review on the 28th. Should the subcommittee require further review or additional data, the reimbursement schedule could face further delays due to re-review. ALS, particularly SOD1 gene mutation ALS, falls into the category of ultra-rare diseases, with fewer than 100 patients worldwide. Qalsody is the first targeted therapy developed specifically for this patient group. Because ALS presents widely variable symptom onset patterns among patients, clinical trial design and endpoint determination are extremely challenging. Experts note that the emergence of the first treatment option showing potential for improving disease progression, even in just one subset of patients, holds significant meaning in ALS, a field where drug development is exceptionally difficult. Given the U.S. Trump administration’s MFN drug-pricing stance and Korea’s historically restrictive approach to rare-disease reimbursement, experts warn that if reimbursement criteria become too narrow, the possibility of the drug's domestic launch being canceled cannot be ruled out. It remains to be seen whether Qalsody will become a reimbursed treatment option in an area with virtually no therapeutic alternatives. Meanwhile, in the Phase III VALOR study, Qalsody did not meet the primary endpoint, the ALSFRS-R functional score. However, it demonstrated reductions in the secondary endpoints: a 26-38% decrease in total SOD1 protein cerebrospinal fluid and a 48-67% decrease in plasma neurofilament light (Nfl) concentration.
- Company
- "Disparity btwn innovation speed and policy… Economic Eval"
- by Son, Hyung Min Nov 24, 2025 06:19am
- Forum As the South Korean positive list system for pharmaceutical reimbursement marks its 20th anniversary, discussion has begun on how to reflect the value of innovative new drugs within the existing economic evaluation system. With the acceleration of technological development and the surge of high-cost innovative treatments for ultra-rare diseases, critics argue that the current framework, which focuses on cost-effectiveness, can no longer sustain the balance between patient access and financial sustainability. At the forum, '20 Years of the Positive List System for Pharmaceutical Reimbursement: Value-Based System Where Innovation Meets Regulation,' held in the National Assembly on November 21, academia, government, industry, and the media all agreed on the necessity of 'modernization of economic evaluation.' The event was jointly hosted by Democratic Party Rep. Seo Young-seok and Rep. Kim Yoon, and Reform Party Rep. Lee Joo-young, and organized by the ISPOR Korea Chapter. The system focused on cost-effectiveness limits evaluation of innovative new drugs Korea's economic evaluation system was introduced in 2006 with the government's announcement of the Drug Expenditure Rationalization Plan (DERP). The PLS, introduced the following year, established the principle that all drugs must be jointly verified for clinical usefulness and economic value through the economic evaluation process, with only those drugs proven to be cost-effective included in the reimbursement list. Although the Economic Evaluation Exemption track was established in 2015 to provide an exceptional pathway, the principle that cost-effectiveness proof is mandatory for new drug reimbursement has persisted for 20 years. However, the industry points out that this cost-effectiveness-centric structure clashes with the rapidly evolving paradigm of innovative new drugs, creating a growing gap between regulation and technology that cannot be ignored. BaeChan Kim, Unit Head at Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, directly criticized the current economic evaluation framework, stating that it has failed to keep pace with changes in treatment paradigms over the last decade. Kim said, "The problem is that as the speed of innovation has accelerated, the complexity of clinical evidence has increased exponentially," and added, "The expansion of areas where standard Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are practically impossible, such as ultra-rare disease treatments, has led to an increase in innovative new drugs approved based only on single-group trials. However, the current economic evaluation and reimbursement system is still aligned with the RCT standard from 20 years ago. Economic evaluation requires evolution, not reinforcement." Kim highlighted Korea's position by citing international comparisons. According to data from the U.S. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), analyzing reimbursement rates for innovative new drugs across nine developed countries, Australia, Korea, and Canada fall behind significantly, with reimbursement rates about half the average. Kim pointed out, "It is a contradictory structure where countries called 'innovation leaders' are actually the furthest behind in access to innovative new drugs." There was also criticism that limiting economic evaluation to a cost-effectiveness-centric structure is no longer realistic. Lee Sang-il, Head of the Department of Policy Planning at the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), assessed, "The challenges of securing both patient access and financial sustainability have become incomparably difficult compared to the past, due to accelerated aging, the emergence of ultra-high-cost innovative drugs, and increased uncertainty in clinical evidence," and said, "We are in an era where cost-effectiveness alone cannot explain even half of the decision-making process." Lee particularly cited the absence of entry evaluations and the failure to establish a post-market evaluation system as the biggest structural problems. Lee said, "For high-cost drugs where there is a disparity between RCT data and real-world clinical data, the insurer needs to conduct a health-economic evaluation directly or through objective verification by a third party. The sustainability of drugs entering via the Risk-Sharing Agreement (RSA) or economic evaluation exemption tracks cannot be guaranteed without post-market management." He emphasized the need to establish a Korean-style Managed Entry Agreement (MEA) that defines the post-market evaluation system concurrently with the listing decision. The event was jointly hosted by Democratic Party Rep. Seo Young-seok and Rep. Kim Yoon, and Reform Party Rep. Lee Joo-young, and organized by the ISPOR Korea Chapter. It has been confirmed that such a problem exists not only in the industry but also in the media covering the regulatory sector. This suggests that the difficulties in the field are repeatedly exposed in official discussions and in practical, real-world cases. Yun-Ho Eo, a journalist at DailyPharm, pointed out, "The core message from the field is that the reason for the increase in economic evaluation exemptions is not that companies want the exemption, but that the current health-economic evaluation itself has become impossibly difficult to handle." Eo added, "Companies are mobilizing law firms, economic evaluation expert agencies, and external consultants because they cannot manage the process using only in-house personnel," and stated, "This shows that Korea's economic evaluation procedures are extremely complicated and rigid on a global scale. Korea's low drug prices and slow listing speed are recognized as a policy reality by the industry." Agrees on modernizing the economic evaluation system...Has proposed directions to strengthen review and evaluation In response to concerns raised by industry and academia, the government acknowledged the limitations of the existing economic evaluation framework and agreed on the need for institutional improvement. However, it clarified that what is needed is not the reinforcement of the system, but its refined modernization. The government highlighted securing evaluation flexibility and expertise, and establishing a post-market management system that reflects actual clinical outcomes after listing, as the core directions for reform. (from left) Sook-hyun Lee, Head of HIRAYeon-sook Kim, Director of Pharmaceutical Management Division at MOHW, said, "Korea was the first country in Asia to adopt the economic evaluation system and has steadily expanded access through institutional evolution, including the Risk-Sharing Agreement (RSA) and Economic Evaluation Exemption." Kim noted, "However, the pace of change recently is fundamentally different from when the system was designed." Kim said, "In an era where innovative new drugs based on uncertainty are surging, the current evaluation method is no longer manageable. I realized the limitations firsthand after working in the field for five months," and added, "We cannot be satisfied with the current system." Kim then presented two tasks: first, the need to define 'innovativeness' more clearly and precisely in the guidelines adopted by HIRA; and second, the need to establish a structure that systematically evaluates actual clinical outcomes after listing and feeds that back into reimbursement. Kim said, "Post-market evaluation is fundamental to all healthcare programs, but it is not yet fully established in Korea. We must create a structure that confirms actual efficacy while minimizing the burden on the clinical and industrial sectors," and added, "Our system lacks flexibility and expertise compared to those of developed countries." We will develop the system in the most practical way possible." The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) also acknowledged the conflict between technological innovation and the existing evaluation framework, stating that an adjustment to the evaluation structure is unavoidable. Sook-hyun Lee, Head of HIRA's New DRG Review Division, said, "Ultra-high-cost innovative new drugs like cell and gene therapies, ADCs, and one-shot treatments are entering the actual listing stage," and added, "The question is whether the cost-effectiveness evaluation alone is sufficient to determine the appropriate price for these drugs." Lee stated, "We cannot process all drugs through the economic evaluation system, nor can we exempt all drugs from it," explaining the currently operating hybrid management system. She emphasized that various forms of conditional reimbursement models have been introduced, including the refund-type RSA, the pre-listing/post-evaluation model, and the requirement for post-listing submission of clinical data. Regarding the recent increase in economic evaluation exemptions, Lee stressed that this should be understood not as a hurdle-free passage, but as a conditional system intended to expand access. Lee explained, "The uncertainty of ultra-high-cost/ultra-rare drugs cannot be resolved simply by increasing the ICER threshold or reinforcing the economic evaluation system," and concluded, "Given the variance in RWD quality, the gap in evidence levels, and the difficulty of quantitative evaluation, a comprehensive adjustment of the evaluation structure is necessary." Lee then added, "Economic evaluation and its exemption cannot be viewed as a simple dichotomy. We will expand post-market management and value-based evaluation to match technological changes." The government largely agrees with industry and academia on the problems and has repeatedly emphasized that the time calls for a more sophisticated evaluation method, not for strengthening regulations. The assessment is that the core task for the next 20 years will be precisely balancing the conflicting policy goals of access, sustainability, innovation, uncertainty, and pre- and post-market evaluation.
- Company
- Cosentyx gains reimbursement for hidradenitis suppurativa
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Nov 21, 2025 06:12am
- Cosentyx, the first new treatment option for hidradenitis suppurativa in 10 years since Humira, has succeeded in expanding its reimbursement one year after reapplying for reimbursement in Korea. The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently announced that it will expand the reimbursment criteria for Novartis Korea's interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor Cosentyx (secukinumab) for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) starting next month (December), through a partial amendment to the ‘Detailed Rules on the Standards and Methods for Applying Health Insurance Benefits.’ Specifically, hidradenitis suppurativa patients can use Cosentyx with reimbursement if they satisfy one of the following criteria: ▲ Adults with a diagnosis of over 1 year ▲ Lesions in two or more distinct areas, with a total of three or more abscesses and inflammatory nodules ▲ Insufficient therapeutic effect or adverse effects despite at least 3 months of antibiotic treatment. The process of expanding Cosentyx’s reimbursement was not smooth. Novartis originally submitted a reimbursement application after expanding its indication for Cosentyx to hidradenitis suppurativa in 2023, but voluntarily withdrew the application due to a lack of progress. Subsequently, in the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) practice guidelines presented at the 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Annual Congress, the EHSF recommended Cosentyx as a first-line biologic treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and those with an inadequate response to prior systemic therapies. This led to the resubmission of the reimbursement expansion application in November of the same year, and the company gained success 1 year after resubmitting the application. Until now, AbbVie Korea’s Humira (adalimumab) has been virtually the only treatment option available for hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea. The introduction of Cosentyx, an IL inhibitor with a different mechanism of action that is also recommended as a first-line therapy, can become a viable option in managing hidradenitis suppurativa. Meanwhile, Cosentyx has demonstrated its clinical utility through the Phase III SUNNY (SUNSHINE, SUNRISE) trial, which was conducted on 1,084 patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Results showed that the HiSCR achievement rate in the Cosentyx group was 45% in the SUNSHINE study and 42% in the SUNRISE study when the drug was administered every 2 weeks at 16 weeks of treatment, which was a significant improvement compared to the placebo group’s 34% and 31%, respectively. In the SUNRISE study, even when the drug was administered every 4 weeks, the HiSCR achievement rate for Cosentyx was 46%, which was significantly higher than the 31% in the placebo group, and the HiSCR achievement rate of Cosentyx improved steadily until the 52nd week of treatment. Cosentyx also showed significant effects in improving patients' pain. According to the results of the SUNNY study, the NRS30 achievement rate at Week 16 of treatment was 39% in the group that received Cosentyx every 2 weeks and 36% in the group that received it every 4 weeks. On the other hand, only 27% of the placebo group achieved NRS30. Also, by week 52 of treatment, 79.6% of the Cosentyx arm, who were administered Cosentyx every 2 weeks, and 72.7% of those who were administered every 4 weeks, did not experience disease exacerbation.
- Company
- "Yescarta leads DLBCL Tx…CAR-T therapy in earlier lines"
- by Son, Hyung Min Nov 21, 2025 06:11am
- The market position of CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is rapidly expanding. Notably, Yescarta has secured approval in Korea for both second- and third-line treatment, drawing attention as a treatment option that has proven survival benefits over the conventional standard therapy. On November 20, Gilead Sciences Korea held a press conference at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, to share the role and clinical value of Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) in the treatment of DLBCL. Yescarta received approval last August for: ▲adult patients with DLBCL who relapsed or were refractory within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy ▲patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL and Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma (PMBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is a CAR-T cell therapy that involves harvesting a patient's T cells, genetically reprogramming them to target CD19 on cancer cells, and then reinfusing them. It is the first CAR-T therapy approved in Korea for both second and third-line treatment. Since its first approval for follicular lymphoma in 2021, Yescarta has successfully secured market adoption by rapidly expanding its indications to DLBCL, leukemia, and others. Its global sales reached $1.57 billion (approximately KRW 2 trillion) last year, making it the only CAR-T therapy to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue. Sungeun Kim, Medical Lead at Gilead Sciences KoreaThe domestic approval of Yescarta is based on the ZUMA-7 clinical trial, which compared the efficacy and safety of CAR-T against conventional standard therapy. The clinical results showed that the median Event-Free Survival (EFS) in the Yescarta group was 8.3 months, which was more than 4 times longer than in the high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) group. The percentage of patients surviving without disease progression or additional treatment at two years was also 41% in the Yescarta group, 2.5 times higher than the 16% in the standard therapy group. The efficacy was consistently observed even in high-risk subgroups, including elderly patients, first-line refractory patients, and patients with double-hit or triple-hit lymphoma. Sungeun Kim, Medical Lead at Gilead Sciences Korea, said, "Yescarta has been supplied to over 31,000 patients worldwide and is a treatment with a stable foundation in terms of manufacturing success rate," and added, "We have submitted the application for reimbursement listing and will do our best to ensure supply in the first half of next year." High unmet need in relapsed/refractory DLBCL…will CAR-T be the solution? DLBCL is a disease where B cells, which protect the body, grow or proliferate uncontrollably. It is the most common B-cell lymphoma, accounting for approximately 40% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and is characterized by aggressive, rapid progression. The number of DLBCL patients in Korea was 14,183 as of last year, up 36% from 10,428 in 2018. Up to 15% of patients fail treatment after the first-line standard therapy, and even 25% of patients who achieve complete response (CR) experience relapse within 18 months. Patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL typically see a rapid worsening of prognosis as the number of treatment lines increases. The current first-line treatment for DLBCL is the chemotherapy 'R-CHOP' (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone), which uses a monoclonal antibody combination. While R-CHOP offers curative potential for about half of patients, the remainder are refractory or relapse due to poor prognostic factors. Professor Gi June Min of Seoul St. MarySubsequent treatment options include high-dose chemotherapy or ASCT. However, due to the physical burden, these options are difficult for elderly or frail patients. In reality, only about 30-40% of patients who respond to salvage chemotherapy can even be considered for ASCT, and half of those are known to relapse after the transplant. Although CAR-T therapies like Kymriah and bispecific antibodies are used after second-line treatment, Yescarta is the only treatment in Korea to secure the second-line indication. This has intensified calls from experts to apply CAR-T therapy as early as possible in patients at high risk of relapse or refractoriness. Professor Gi June Min of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital's Division of Hematology said, "CAR-T therapy is a priority recommended treatment for patients who relapse within 12 months," and emphasized, "Yescarta, which has confirmed improvement in OS, is a good drug that should be used earlier in the treatment sequence to maximize its effect."
- Company
- Gov't-Pharma meet for drug pricing system reform
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Nov 21, 2025 06:11am
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KBPMA) Board of Directors have shared the direction for the upcoming reform of the drug pricing system. This initial meeting between the government and the pharmaceutical industry is expected to accelerate future discussions regarding the reform. According to the pharmaceutical industry on November 19, MOHW officials, including Lee Joong-kyu, Director-General of the Health Insurance Policy Bureau, attended the KBPMA Board of Directors meeting on the afternoon of November 18. It was the first meeting discussing the drug pricing system reform. During the meeting, the fundamental objectives and broad direction of the reform were shared. The government explained its policy to actively incentivize R&D investment by pharmaceutical and biotech companies and enhance access to new drugs. It was also mentioned that an adjustment to the generic drug price criteria must be made. Additionally, details on measures to stabilize the supply of essential medicines and to reorganize the post-market management system were shared. With the reform's general direction now shared with the industry, there is anticipation that discussions regarding the drug pricing system overhaul will gain momentum. The MOHW plans to finalize the draft reform plan based on the content shared at the meeting. The relevant agenda is expected to be reported to the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee scheduled for November 28. The discussions are expected to proceed after the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee report. While the report will outline the overall direction of the reform, subsequent discussions regarding detailed aspects, such as the generic drug pricing calculation rate, are expected to continue with the pharmaceutical industry's working-level consultative body. Considering the necessary procedures, a concrete outline of the drug pricing system reform is anticipated to emerge by the end of this year or early next year. The government is reportedly contemplating several changes, including adjusting the generic drug pricing calculation rate, reforming the tiered drug pricing system, merging post-market management systems, expanding the Risk-Sharing Agreement (RSA) and Dual Pricing systems, and implementing drug price bonuses linked to R&D investment ratios. First, there is a review to lower the generic drug calculation rate from the current 53.55% to below 50%. Under the current system, the price of a generic drug is set at 59.5% of the original drug's maximum price for the first year of listing, and this price is lowered to 53.55% thereafter. To receive the 53.55% rate, companies must meet both conditions: conduct their own 'bioequivalence test' and use a 'registered Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (DMF)'. If only one condition is met, the price is reduced by an additional 15% (to 45.52% of the original price). If neither condition is met, it is reduced by another 15% (to 38.69% of the original). The government judges that the current 53.55% calculation rate is too high. Although the specific adjustment range has not been disclosed, industry forecasts suggest the rate could drop to around 40%. The tiered drug pricing structure is also an item for reform. Currently, the 53.55% rate applies to the first 20 generics listed, after which the price is reduced by 15% sequentially. Regarding this, there is discussion about narrowing the listing bracket from the current 20th generic to around the 10th, while simultaneously easing the drug price reduction rate to below 15%. The post-market management systems are expected to be merged and reorganized. This addresses criticism that various systems, such as the Actual Transaction Price-Based Drug Price Reduction, the Drug Reimbursement Appropriateness Re-evaluation, and the Price-Volume Agreement, operate in a complicated manner, reducing predictability. Discussions about integrated systems are expected to begin soon after the 'Research on a Integrated Mechanism for Post-market Drug Price Management' results are released. The drug price incentive system is likely to be reorganized to link preferential treatment to each pharmaceutical and biotech company's R&D investment ratio. An official from the pharmaceutical industry stated, "The government is clearly communicating that the market centered solely on generics has limitations for growth," and added, "I understand that discussions are proceeding toward simplifying the system and ensuring compensation for corporate innovation."
- Company
- Topical JAK inhibitor 'Anzupgo cream' submitted for reimb
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Nov 20, 2025 06:16am
- Product photo of Topical JAK inhibitor 'Anzupgo cream' has been submitted for insurance reimbursement listing. According to industry sources, LEO Pharma Korea recently submitted a reimbursement application for Anzupgo (delgocitinib), a new drug for Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE). Attention is drawn to whether this first and only cream-formulation JAK inhibitor option will gain reimbursement option. Anzuupgo is the only non-steroidal topical cream formulation approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe CHE in adult patients who have not responded to, or for whom topical corticosteroids are not advisable. Anzupgo does not contain parabens or steroids. It works by suppressing the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which is involved in various inflammatory reactions, by inhibiting the activity of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2, thereby helping to alleviate skin inflammation and pruritus. Until now, treatment options for CHE have been limited, with strong topical corticosteroids primarily being used. However, prolonged use of these agents can carry various risks, including skin barrier damage, skin atrophy, and dilated blood vessels. For cases where treatment effects did not appear in a short period, Korean treatment guidelines also recommended combining them with topical calcineurin inhibitors or systemic steroids. GSK's 'Alitoc (alitretinoin)', currently the only approved oral treatment for severe CHE, is used in patients who have not responded to at least 4 weeks of potent topical corticosteroid therapy. It improves symptoms through its skin-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory actions. It is known to be effective for the long-term management of chronic, severe hand eczema with a high risk of relapse. However, its continued use has been limited by concerns over various side effects, including hepatotoxicity, hypothyroidism, dyslipidemia, and fetal malformation. Anzuupgo's efficacy was proven through the DELTA FORCE and DELTA 2 clinical studies, which included a direct comparison with GSK's Alitoc (alitretinoin). In the DELTA FORCE study, the primary objective was met, showing superiority over alitretinoin capsules when delgocitinib was evaluated at baseline and at Week 12 using the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score. The DELTA 2 study enrolled 473 patients with moderate-to-severe CHE. Participants were randomized to either the delgocitinib cream or placebo cream application group, receiving treatment twice daily for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was an Investigator's Global Assessment for Chronic Hand Eczema (IGA-CHE) score of 0/1 measured at Week 16. Key secondary endpoints included the IGA-CHE score and the Hand Eczema Symptom Diary (HESD) score, both evaluated at Weeks 4 and 8. The results showed that the delgocitinib group significantly improved chronic hand eczema at Week 16 compared to the placebo group, meeting the primary and key secondary endpoints.
- Company
- ‘4-drug regimen essential for treating heart failure’
- by Son, Hyung Min Nov 20, 2025 06:15am
- Heart failure remains one of the most dangerous cardiovascular diseases. Rather than simply causing fatigue or shortness of breath, it is a systemic disorder in which structural and functional impairment of the heart leads to reduced blood flow and multi-organ decline. In rapidly aging countries like Korea, prevalence is rising at an even faster pace. The prevalence of heart failure in Korea has increased by approximately 4.5-fold over the past 20 years, exceeding 26% among those aged 80 and older. More notably, the 5-year survival rate for heart failure is lower than that for major cancers like breast or prostate cancer. This demonstrates that it is no longer merely a chronic condition but a severe disease directly linked to survival. Amidst this shift towards heart failure becoming a severe disease, DailyPharm met with Professor Michael Böhm, Chair of the ESC Scientific Program Committee and Professor of Internal Medicine at Saarland University Hospital, and Professor Byung-Su Yoo, President of of the Korean Heart Failure Society and Professor of Cardiology at Yonsei University Wonju College Hospital to discuss the the current state of heart failure and the challenges in the Korean treatment environment. (from the left) Prof Michael Boehm, Prof Byung-Su YooBoth experts highlighted the particularly rapid disease progression and high readmission risk associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), emphasizing that “early treatment determines survival.” Among heart failure types, HFrEF is known for its rapid worsening, with more than 20% of patients readmitted within one year after discharge. Rehospitalization not only signifies worsening prognosis but also directly leads to increased mortality. Consequently, global guidelines explicitly state that ‘the success of HFrEF treatment hinges on the initial treatment strategy.’ This means that the only evidence-based strategy to improve survival rates is to promptly initiate the four pillars of heart failure therapy (ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid antagonists, and SGLT-2 inhibitors) upon diagnosis and uptitrated to target doses as quickly as possible. Among these, Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan), a representative ARNI therapy, is the most crucial pillar in HFrEF treatment. In the landmark PARADIGM-HF study, Entresto reduced cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization by 20% compared to the conventional ACE inhibitor enalapril, completely shifting the HFrEF treatment paradigm. Consistent results showing reduced risks of sudden death and emergency room visits provided the rationale for transitioning from the RAAS monotherapy era to a new standard of care centered on ARNIs. Germany is a prime example of a country where this shift was swiftly implemented in clinical practice. Standard therapy, including Entresto, is applied early on to most HFrEF patients, and a standardized heart failure care pathway, prioritizing achieving target doses, is already firmly established in the country. By contrast, Korea continues to face criticism for a low four-drug application rate and inadequate dose titration. Experts emphasize that such gaps ultimately translate into survival disparities, stressing the need for early treatment optimization. Q. What is the proportion of HFrEF patients, and what are the key clinical characteristics of the disease? eb Prof Byung-Su YooProf. Yoo: While data varies, the Korean Heart Failure III Registry, which focuses on tertiary hospital patients, shows approximately 55% or more cases are HFrEF. This reflects the patient population characteristics of tertiary hospitals, which treat a high proportion of severe cases. In actual clinical practice, with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) would be more common. This distribution is becoming more pronounced due to the recent increase in elderly and obese patients. HFrEF is characterized by significantly impaired systolic function, faster progression, and more severe symptoms such as dyspnea, edema, and fatigue. Prof. Michael: In Europe, HFrEF is also estimated at around 50%, but the actual proportion may be higher. Women with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, or diabetes were often classified as HFpEF in the past. Under the latest criteria, they may now be reclassified as HFrEF or HFmrEF. This shift suggests that heart failure classification based on ejection fraction may be revised in the future. Q. What is the evidence supporting the establishment of the four-drug regimen as the standard treatment for heart failure? Prof. Yoo: The standard treatment for heart failure is a therapeutic strategy established based on decades of accumulated clinical research. The effects of existing medications—beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and MRAs—in reducing mortality and rehospitalization have been consistently demonstrated through large trials. The addition of SGLT2 inhibitors completed the four foundational pillars, and RAAS inhibitors are now shifting toward ARNI class drugs. Crucially, evidence shows that applying all four drugs together can reduce the risk of death or hospitalization by over 70%. Therefore, unless there are specific contraindications, actively using this regimen from the outset is key to improving prognosis. It is established as standard therapy that must be adhered to unless there are specific reasons not to, due to its clear efficacy in improving major events (hard outcomes). The standard therapy mentioned has already been proven effective in numerous studies. Specifically, using these four standard drugs can reduce mortality and hospitalization rates by approximately 70% or more, with this benefit observed in one out of every four patients. Prof. Michael: Heart failure pharmacotherapy has long evolved toward regulating the neuroendocrine axis. ACE inhibitors and MRAs were developed first, and major large-scale clinical trials established the current treatment foundation. As these studies accumulated, mortality rates in heart failure patients gradually decreased. Indeed, meta-analyses show that mortality and hospitalization rates decrease by approximately 65% when initiating all four agents together. Q. Why is Entresto preferred over other RAAS inhibitors? Prof. Yoo:The rationale for prioritizing Entresto (ARNI) is clearly demonstrated in the PARADIGM-HF study. In this study, Entresto reduced major hard outcomes, including death and hospitalization, by approximately 20% compared to the existing ACE inhibitor enalapril. This study is particularly significant because it demonstrated superiority not against a placebo, but directly against the then-standard of care, an ACE inhibitor. Mechanistically, the ARB (valsartan) is combined with a novel mechanism—a neprilysin inhibitor (sacubitril)—which synergistically enhances sodium excretion, vasodilation, and myocardial protection. These biological effects translated into actual clinical outcomes, establishing ARNI as the new standard that replaces existing RAAS inhibitors. Prof Michael Boehm#Prof. Michael: PARADIGM-HF can be regarded as a study that changed the treatment paradigm for heart failure. It presented a new mechanism capable of replacing ACE inhibitors, the existing standard therapy, and as a large-scale randomized study, it secured long-term data, demonstrating high stability and reliability. Recruiting a control group of this scale again would be practically difficult, making it unlikely that a comparable study could be replicated. Entresto demonstrated significant improvements not only in the primary endpoint but also in patients' quality of life (QoL). Survey-based assessments showed substantial relief in patients' overall well-being and symptom burden, carrying profound clinical significance for heart failure patients, particularly those with HFrEF. Furthermore, it demonstrated superior renal function preservation compared to ACE inhibitors and even confirmed the long-term benefit of reducing the risk of developing diabetes. These additional benefits can be seen as a result of the complementary properties of the sacubitril and valsartan combination, holding great significance in that it can provide patients with a better clinical experience across the entire spectrum of heart failure treatment. Why must all four therapies as standard therapy be initiated “as early as possible”? Prof. Yoo: HFrEF is a disease with a particularly poor prognosis at diagnosis, with many patients experiencing a rapid deterioration within the first 3 months. Since this is the period with the highest risk of death and rehospitalization, the four-drug standard therapy regimen must be introduced as quickly as possible. The effect of these medications is not merely symptom relief; they rapidly reduce mortality and hospitalization rates. Delaying treatment means immediately forfeiting these benefits. Numerous studies have accumulated showing that the earlier these medications are applied in HFrEF patients, the greater the improvement in prognosis. Consequently, both domestic and international guidelines emphasize early intervention. Prof. Michael: The reason early intensive therapy is crucial is that there exists a clinical golden time for heart failure. From the moment of initial diagnosis, myocardial stress in HFrEF patients increases rapidly, and structural and functional damage progress quickly during this process. Therefore, the four drugs must be initiated as soon as possible before the benefits of treatment accumulate. Furthermore, a sequential, delayed introduction of medications can result in leaving the patient's clinical risk unaddressed. Large-scale patient data also consistently show that rapid initiation of combination therapy improves survival rates and reduces hospitalization risk compared to monotherapy or delayed initiation. For these reasons, Europe also operates treatment strategies aiming for early completion of the four-drug regimen whenever possible. Q. South Korea still has a low initial adoption rate for the four-drug regimen. What tasks are necessary for improvement? Professor Yoo: The reasons for suboptimal initial treatment optimization in Korea involve a complex interplay of factors: time and environmental constraints on healthcare providers, patient concerns about polypharmacy, and staffing burdens in clinical settings. However, given the substantial clinical benefits of the four-drug regimen, establishing it as the common clinical pathway is necessary. Strengthening the role of heart failure centers and specialized clinics, establishing integrated treatment algorithms applicable from the initial visit stage, and creating structures that facilitate active dose titration in clinical practice are crucial. This should be accompanied by patient education to improve medication adherence and policy support to ensure consistent treatment standards across regional healthcare institutions. In terms of clinical inertia, a particularly unique situation in Korea is that healthcare providers have very limited time when seeing outpatients and must manage a large volume of patients. This makes it extremely difficult to carry out standard treatment or personalized therapy for patients. To summarize, the target level for standard treatment in Korea has significantly improved. However, it can be said that there is still room for improvement for many practitioners, excluding specialists who specifically treat heart failure patients. Prof. Michael: As seen in Germany, a ‘standardized clinical pathway’ is key to increasing early treatment initiation rates. We need a system that allows any doctor to design treatment based on the same criteria, rather than relying on the experience and skill level of individual clinicians. Furthermore, in the process of managing patients to reach the maximum tolerated dose of medication, it is crucial to establish time flexibility and a continuous monitoring system in the clinical setting. Indeed, the standard four-drug regimen that includes Entresto achieves optimal efficacy only when doses are sufficiently titrated. Therefore, expanding outpatient, nursing, and educational systems for this purpose is absolutely essential. A national-level management model would ultimately narrow Korea’s treatment gap and improve outcomes for many patients.
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- RED Period Campaign successfully concludes to end HIV stigma
- by Son, Hyung Min Nov 20, 2025 06:14am
- Participants in the RED Preiod Campaign The RED Period Council (RED Council), a joint initiative among academia, patient advocacy groups, and industry aimed at ending stigma and discrimination against HIV, announced that it successfully held the “Red Period Campaign – Citizen Participation Event” at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on the 17th. Since the first reported cases over 40 years ago, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) treatment has progressed dramatically. Today, with consistent medication adherence and regular care, HIV can be managed like other chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension. However, despite these scientific advances in treatment and prevention, people living with HIV and key populations still face significant barriers due to persistent misconceptions, social stigma, and discrimination. To mark World AIDS Day (December 1), the council hosted this public event to deliver accurate information and break down prejudices surrounding the disease. During the event, representatives of the council, including Prof. Beom-Sik Chin (Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center), Seok-Soo Son (President, KNP+), Seung-Hwan Kim (Executive Director, Sinanun Center), Jong-Hyuk Lee (Director, Public Communication Research Institute), and Jae Yeon Choi (General Manager, Gilead Sciences Korea), took the stage to reaffirm their commitment to eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Participants also read aloud messages of encouragement submitted through the Naver Happy Bean Good Action campaign page, which has been active since October, and urged continued public participation in the RED Period Campaign The event featured several programs, including ▲a calligraphy performance by artist So-Young Kim interpreting the campaign’s core messages, ▲a video highlighting the campaign’s meaning from the perspectives of people living with HIV, supportive video messages from actors, and ▲a celebratory performance by singer Seung Yeon Son delivering messages of hope and comfort. TV personality Seok-Cheon Hong, long recognized for his advocacy on LGBTQ+ and HIV-related human rights issues, hosted the event. Ambassador Philippe Lafortune of the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Korea, Seung-kwan Im (Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), Sun-Hee Lee (President, The Korean Society for AIDS), and Jae Yeon Choi (GM, Gilead Korea) also offered welcome remarks in support of the campaign. Many citizens are participating in various participatory programs held at Cheonggye Plaza to end HIV discrimination and prejudice. Additionally, the ‘HIV Stigma and Bias Elimination Experience Zone’ set up throughout Cheonggye Plaza offered various programs to help citizens improve their accurate understanding and awareness of the disease. Citizens learned accurate disease information by physically breaking apart and reassembling a large puzzle featuring discriminatory and prejudiced statements about HIV. Additionally, they participated in activities like taking photos, pledging support for the RED Period Campaign, writing messages of encouragement, and joining together to place full stops, contributing to the movement for improved HIV awareness and solidarity. Prof. Beom-Sik Chin of the Department of Infectious Diseases at National Medical Center said, HIV is no longer a fatal acute infection but a manageable chronic disease. As treatment has advanced, eliminating stigma-driven declines in quality of life among people living with HIV must be addressed urgently. The medical community will continue to play an active role in ending HIV-related discrimination and prejudice.” Jae Yeon Choi, General Manager of Gilead Sciences Korea, said, “Gilead is leading scientific innovation and improving access to care in the treatment of HIV, one of the world's most deadly diseases. The RED Period Campaign will be a crucial turning point in reducing new infections and ultimately ending HIV transmission. Gilead Korea will spare no effort in supporting this journey.” Includes the Korean Society for AIDS, Hamkke-Seo-Bom Foundation, KNP+, Love for One, Shinnaneun Center, Public Communication Research Institute, and Gilead Sciences Korea. Since its launch in September, the council has focused on improving awareness, strengthening treatment and prevention environments, and driving institutional and policy advancement with the long-term goal of reducing new HIV infections by 50%.
