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- 2025-12-18 02:12:49
- InterView
- ‘Ireland, a bridgehead for companies entering the EU mkt'
- by Nho, Byung Chul Jul 10, 2024 05:48am
- Rory Mullen, Global Head of Biopharma and Food at Investment Promotion & Development Agency Ireland "Ireland has the best condition for multinational pharmaceutical and biotech companies to invest and operate in as a bridgehead to the European market." Rory Mullen, Global Head of Biopharma and Food at Investment Promotion & Development Agency Ireland explained so during his recent visit to South Korea. Mr. Mullen visited Korea to discuss European expansion strategies with the country's health authorities and pharma and bio companies. He cited Ireland's abundant R&D talent, low corporate taxes, business-friendly state policies, and EU-GMP certification as some of the benefits. Global Head Mullen said, “Ireland's pharma and biotech industry is 95% foreign-owned, with academy-affiliated biotechs and indigenous pharmaceutical companies such as Chanelle Pharma and Alma.” Ireland is a pharma-bio powerhouse with combined domestic and foreign healthcare sales of KRW 110 trillion. Currently, more than 20 global Big Pharma companies, including Pfizer, Lilly, BMS, and Gilead, have established production bases and research centers in Ireland, which serve as a base for their entry into the European market. Pfizer and BMS were the first multinational pharmaceutical companies to set foot in Ireland more than 60 years ago. Today, Pfizer has 5 smart factories in the country, including a small molecule API product manufacturing facility and a biologic agent manufacturing facility. BMS has a biologics manufacturing facility in Ireland and recently announced plans to build an additional large-scale aseptic production plant. SK Biotech, a Korean company, acquired BMS's small molecule API manufacturing facility in Ireland and is currently executing a plan for its successful European expansion. Other Asia-Pacific pharma and biotech companies with a presence in Ireland include China's Wuxi and Japan's Takeda and Astellas. Wuxi is considered a successful example of an Ireland-based company that crossed the Atlantic and entered the U.S., the world's No. 1 healthcare market. Japanese pharmaceutical companies are also planning new roadmaps for establishing ADC manufacturing sites in Ireland, to ultimately capture the European market. One of the reasons Ireland is so highly regarded as a strategic location by 'Big Pharmas' is because of the country's pro-business policies and corporate tax breaks. Mr. Mullen said, "Ireland has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, at 15% for large corporations (including multinational companies) and 12.5% for small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, we have a tax refund system to encourage R&D activities, which allows companies to maximize profit value." Korea's corporate tax rate is 24%, while the OECD average is around 21%, meaning that if a Korean company were to relocate its production and R&D headquarters to Ireland, the company may benefit from a tax break of up to 10%. Mr. Mullen added, “Korea has been producing impressive results in the pharma and biotech industry in recent years. Samsung Biologics has already grown to become a global CDMO on par with Lonza. Celltrion and SK Bioscience are also on their way to becoming K-bio leaders." Meanwhile, Ireland, an island nation neighboring the United Kingdom, is a prime example of a former shepherding nation turned healthcare powerhouse. The country fostered the pharma-bio sector as its new growth engine more than 50 years ago and has since become a bridgehead and outpost for global Big Pharmas seeking to enter Europe. With a population of 5.5 million, it has half the population of Seoul, but as an EU-OECD-UN member, it has one of the highest quality of life in the world. With a nominal GDP per capita of about USD 100,000 (about KRW 120 million), the country’s GDP is more than 3 times higher than that of Korea's. The country also has a Human Development Index that ranks second in the world and is highly regarded as a hidden developed country.
- InterView
- “Prolia demonstrated a long-term treatment effect"
- by Son, Hyung-Min Jul 05, 2024 05:49am
- David Dempster (Hons), Professor at Columbia University in the United States“Prolia has consistently been proven to increase bone density based on clinical trials conducted over 10 years. Patients prescribed with Prolia have demonstrated such. Based on this evidence we hope that Prolia’s preventative effect on bone fracture becomes known in South Korea.“ During a recent meeting with Daily Pharm, David Dempster, (Hons) Professor at Columbia University in the U.S., assessed the osteoporosis treatment, Prolia (denosumab), as such. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that weakens bones due to lowered bone density, and it cannot be completely recovered. After the diagnosis of osteoporosis, inadequate treatment may lead to a bone fracture with a minor fall in daily life. Once an osteoporotic fracture occurs, the risk of another bone fracture increases tenfold, and repeated incidents lead to a worsened prognosis. Preventing bone fracture through a long-term and consistent treatment is critical for osteoporosis. Since May, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) expanded the National Health Insurance criteria for receiving major osteoporosis medications, including Prolia. Previously, patients could receive reimbursement at a T-score below -2.5, a bone mineral density test criteria. After the reimbursement revision, osteoporosis patients can receive reimbursement for osteoporosis medications for up to two years at a T score of over -2.5 or above or below -2.0 at the follow-up tests. Professor Dempster said that expanding the reimbursement criteria was the right decision, and emphasized the importance of preventing osteoporotic bone fractures through continuous medication treatment. Real World Data over 10 years demonstrated the effectiveness of Prolia Based on 10-year FREEDOM and FREEDOM Extension studies, Prolia showed a higher effect on reducing bone fractures compared to alendronate, a previous osteoporosis medication. In a real-world study conducted among 478,651 postmenopausal osteoporosis patients in the United States with no prior treatment history, Prolia reduced the risk of non-vertebral fractures, excluding hip fractures by 50% and major osteoporotic fractures by 39% compared to alendronate. After one year of treatment, Prolia demonstrated a greater reduction in bone fractures than alendronate. Studies indicate that the longer the treatment duration, more significant the decrease in the risk of bone fractures. “Prolia is a superior medication compared to conventional treatments in many aspects. This treatment provides effective results and offers high convenience with its once-every-six-month dosing schedule. Most elderly osteoporosis patients often already take medications for other conditions, making it burdensome to take additional oral medications. Additionally, some treatments have complex dosing regimens, causing various challenges in administration,“ Professor Dempster said. With previous treatments like alendronate, most patients typically reach a plateau in bone density improvement after about 2 to 3 years of therapy. However, Prolia has shown a consistent increase in bone density throughout the treatment period due to its unique mechanism of action compared to other medications. “Prolia has been confirmed to be easy to administer and continuously increase bone density through long-term clinical studies. According to presentations at various conferences, including the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Prolia’s data repeatedly indicate that it offers superior long-term improvement in bone density and reduction in fracture risk than conventional treatments,“ Professor Dempster said. “While existing treatments are good options, it may be necessary to recognize that better therapies have been developed. I hope that in Korea, there will be a growing understanding that Prolia's effectiveness is superior to conventional treatments, like that in the United States,” he added. A sequential treatment regimen is recommended for osteoporosis…concerns for the disease awareness Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone density (BMD) decreases, leading to structural damage to the bones themselves. Therefore, after restoring bone density to a certain level using bone-forming agents, maintaining the increased bone density with bone resorption inhibitors is proposed as an appropriate treatment method. In this context, sequential therapy, which involves appropriately utilizing currently available treatments rather than single therapies, is being proposed. The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) recommends sequential therapy as a treatment guideline, and the Korean Society for Bone Metabolism has also adopted similar guidelines. “Treatment is essential for both high-risk and very high-risk fracture groups, but for those in the very high-risk category, considering initial treatment with bone-forming agents like Evenity or teriparatide can be an option,“ Professor Dempster said. “Bone-forming agents have approved indications for a treatment duration of 1 to 2 years, so switching to bone resorption inhibitors like Prolia or bisphosphonate agents is recommended after a certain period of treatment.“ “Clinical studies like ARCH for Evenity and comparative studies of teriparatide with risedronate have confirmed that sequential therapy using bone-forming agents followed by bone resorption inhibitors provides more effective prevention against fractures in patients,“ he added. Professor Dempster also expressed his hope that improvements in reimbursement criteria would shift awareness regarding osteoporosis treatment in South Korea. Patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are well aware of their blood pressure or blood sugar levels and understand the need for lifelong medication. However, understanding conditions like osteoporosis is notably lower, so individuals may not even realize they have osteoporosis. “Korea is experiencing rapid aging, with an estimated half of the population expected to be 65 or older by 2070. Therefore, starting osteoporosis treatment and reducing the risk of fractures through this treatment is crucial," he said. "Instead of blaming patients for discontinuing treatment arbitrarily, verifying the reasons for discontinuation and appropriately explaining how significant and severe the consequences could be important,” Professor Dempster said. “Efforts in the field, including expert persuasion of the government, have contributed to creating an environment for continuous treatment, even for patients with T-scores between -2.5 and -2.0. Osteoporosis cannot be fully recovered, like lifelong diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, so management is currently the best approach. I request that relevant government departments continue to listen to the voices of experts in the field,” Professor Dempster emphasized.
- InterView
- ‘Leqembi enables prevention of Alzheimer's disease’
- by Son, Hyung-Min Jun 27, 2024 05:47am
- Duk Lyul Na, Director of the Happymind Clinic (former Professor of Neurology at Samsung Medical Center,), "Now that there is a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, we can prevent dementia by 90% if it is detected early. With better drugs expected to be developed in the future, we should provide timely treatment for the patients so they can live to grasp that new opportunity." Duk Lyul Na, Director of the Happymind Clinic (former Professor of Neurology at Samsung Medical Center,), stressed the importance of treating Alzheimer's disease early during a meeting with Dailypharm. Alzheimer's disease has been one of the unexplored areas of treatment. Since the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease is caused by amyloid beta emerged, drugs targeting amyloid beta were developed, to no effect. One such drug was Eisai’s Aduhelm (aducanumab). Because the amyloid beta hypothesis was first received with doubt at the time, there was not much trust in the drug, but it showed an effect. However, Aduhelm was withdrawn from the market due to its high price and concerns about side effects. Then came Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb). Developed by Eisai and Biogen, Leqembi has shown efficacy in early-stage Alzheimer's disease in clinical trials and has cleared the regulatory hurdles in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and China. The introduction of Leqembi has raised hopes of conquering dementia by allowing a more fundamental treatment that goes beyond symptom relief. Director Na emphasized that treatments that target amyloid beta are more likely to make a difference than those that do not, and that starting treatment at the earliest stages of dementia is key to maximizing the treatment effect. Leqembi delays disease progression by 27% in phase III trial Leqembi, the first drug approved in Korea, was shown to delay the rate of Alzheimer's disease progression by 27% compared to placebo in the Phase 3 Clarity AD study. The study compared the efficacy and safety of Leqembi versus placebo in 1,795 patients aged 50 to 90 years with early Alzheimer's disease who had evidence of brain amyloid accumulation on positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid tests. Study results showed that the primary endpoint, the Clinical. Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score at 18 months post-dose, was 1.21 in the Leqembi arm. This was lower than the 1.66 recorded by the placebo group. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms. One of the secondary endpoints, change in amyloid deposition via PET, was also reduced in the Leqembi arm starting at 3 months after administration. "In other diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, patients often get better with treatment, but in brain diseases, stopping disease progression is near a miracle. The 27% effect in slowing disease progression compared to placebo includes patients with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s type dementia. If treatment is started at an earlier stage, we expect the effect to be greater.” But there are concerns about side effects. In the trial, Leqembi’s incidence of ARIA-E with cerebral edema was 12.6%, and ARIA-H with cerebral hemorrhage was 17.3%. "Aducanumab, which was introduced before Leqembi, had a reported ARIA-E rate in the 40% range, but in the real world, the rate was about 19%, not as high as in clinical studies. In the field, the dose was increased more slowly than standard and patients were monitored via MRI every month, so we were able to respond early to side effects " "Therefore, Leqembi’s side effects can also be managed by closely monitoring patients and proactive management. For reference, the high cost of MRI in the U.S. makes it difficult to perform frequent MRI tests, but Korea has a relatively favorable environment for frequent testing." "First new drug for Alzheimer’s in Korea...Early Alzheimer's patients should be treated aggressively with the drug” Director Na stressed how patients should be aggressively treated with the introduction of the first new drug for Alzheimer's disease. According to Dr. Na, the treatment effect for Alzheimer's disease is not high if it is detected and treated at the middle or early to mid-stage of the disease. "If there is even a small amount of brain atrophy found via MRI, there is a high probability that the amyloid PET test will be positive. Therefore, if you can afford it, I recommend taking the APOE gene test. Depending on the results, you can confirm Alzheimer's lesions with an amyloid PET test. The best option is to remove amyloid beta from the brain while the patient’s cognitive function is still normal." "The earlier we can treat the disease, the less financial and disease burden it can cause. Also, if we can maintain the disease without progression, another opportunity may come for the patients to be treated when new therapies become available." In particular, Na noted that if the disease is left untreated in the early stages, it can become more costly and distressing for the patients and their families. Treatment with lecanemab is expected to cost KRW 20 to 30 million annually. If the patient starts treatment in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease when there are no symptoms and the amyloid beta is cleared, the cost spent will be enough to cure the condition. However, if symptoms appear and the disease progresses to dementia, it is likely to cost an additional KRW 300 to 500 million per month in care costs alone. Na explained, “I have been treating dementia patients for more than 30 years, and I have seen how dire the situation is for patients with amyloid beta accumulation in the brain. In practice, the ratio of positive and negative amyloid PET scans in patients with mild cognitive impairment is about 50 to 50. And the difference between the two patient groups increases over time. As the disease progresses, the friction between patients and their caregivers increases and the burden of care becomes significantly higher. In this sense, Leqembi is an essential treatment that can alleviate the suffering of these families." "We now live in a world where Alzheimer's can be prevented 90% of the time if it is detected in advance. If the patient’s amyloid PET test comes out negative, it is also good as they can enjoy the rest of their life without concern. I ask patients to receive testing in advance and become aware of their condition. This way they can live without vague fears and prevent dementia.”
- InterView
- 1 year after Lynparza approved for early-stage breast cancer
- by Son, Hyung-Min May 07, 2024 05:50am
- Professor Min Hwan Kim, Department of Oncology at Severance Yonsei Cancer Hospital. It’s been over a year since Lynparza was approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Previously, Lynparza was mainly used for treating metastatic breast cancer, but it expanded its usage following the approval last year for the early-stage treatment. As Lynparza has been confirmed to have a superior drug tolerance in the real-world, experts are advocating its use at early stages to prevent cancer recurrences. During a meeting with Daily Pharm, Professor Min Hwan Kim, Department of Oncology at Severance Yonsei Cancer Hospital, shared an opinion that Lynparza should be used more in early-stage treatments. Recently, targeted cancer therapies have proven their treatment effects at early stages in the field of solid cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. Lynparza is one of them. Lynparza is a PARP inhibitor-class therapy developed by AstraZeneca. It was approved in 2019 as a treatment for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer who carry germline BRCA (gBRCA). The PARP1 protein has been known to be overexpressed in female cancers, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Lynparza’s underlying mechanism of action is preventing PARP1 from DNA binding, thereby inhibiting further cancer progression. Previously, patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and gBRCA mutation had unmet needs in targeted therapy options. Then, PARP inhibitor, which has shown effects in gBRCA metastatic ovarian cancer, emerged as a new treatment option as it demonstrated effects in breast cancer. Furthermore, in February of last year, Lynparza expanded efficacy in treating high-risk patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and gBRCA mutation. Kim emphasized the use of Lynparza at an early stage to prevent recurrence and for breast cancer patients to return to daily life. Lynparza demonstrated effects in early-stage breast cancer patients gBRCA mutations has been pointed out as the key risk factor for breast cancer. Mutation in gBRCA complicates the DNA damage repairs. In this case, genetic changes in a normal cell can lead to cancer occurrence. Mutations in gBRCA are found in around 5-10% of the total breast cancer. Whereas the average age of diagnosis for breast cancer is 63, the average age of diagnosis is relatively early when there is a BRCA1 mutation, at an average of 44.1, and a BRCA2 mutation, at 45.1. Breast cancer patients with gBRCA mutations confer poor prognosis, and as for HER2-negative breast cancer, there is no targeted receptor, which puts patients in limited treatment circumstances. But a relief for such individuals suffering from this condition is that PARP inhibitors, which have been found effective in treating breast cancer with gBRCA mutations, are now available. Lynparza, in particular, is expanding its presence after having demonstrated its effectiveness in the Phase 3 OlmpiA clinical trial, which involved HER2-negative breast cancer patients at early stages who carry gBRCA1/2 mutations. The clinical trial involved 1,836 patients who have completed adjuvant chemotherapy either prior to or after the surgery. During the follow-up period of 3.5 years (median value), post-surgical Lynparza adjuvant therapy reduced breast cancer recurrence or risk of death by 42% compared to placebo. Lynparza group’s invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) at 4 years was 82.7%, which was 75.4% longer than the placebo, and their distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was 86.5%, showing a significant improvement compared to 79.1% in the placebo group. For this reason, Kim strongly voiced his opinion towards the use of anti-cancer agents, such as Lynparza, at early stages of cancer. When cancer relapses, complete recovery cannot be anticipated, and improvements in survival rate are rarely found. Kim said, “When cancer relapses, even if Lynparza is used, complete recovery cannot be expected, and improvements in overall survival rate have not been demonstrated. Therefore, the benefit of using PARP inhibitors at early stages is enormous. Lynparza demonstrated overall survival rate improvements at early stages of HER2-negative breast cancer, increased complete recovery rate, and has solid clinical evidence.” He also emphasized that the “Lynparza group’s distant disease-free survival (DDFS) at four years was 86.5%, which practically lowered the recurrence rate to one-third. The clinical trial involved patients with triple-negative breast cancer, in which case cancer recurrence carries a higher risk of death. Reducing the cancer recurrence for these patients means a lot since it provides life-extension.” Non-reimbursed gBRCA screening…breast cancer patients face greater burden After receiving approval for expanded indications in early-stage breast cancer last year, Lynparza prescriptions are now available for patients. The basis for approval was superior drug tolerance and low side effects in early-stage breast cancer. Kim said, “To date, there have been no patients with cancer recurrence after Lynparza use. We are experiencing that Lynparza proved superior drug tolerance in treatment settings. We initially had concerns about the potential blood diseases, such as leukemia, considering the PARP inhibitor’s characteristics, but the side effects have been generally favorable when prescribed. Additionally, there weren’t many cases of anemia and tiredness.” Until now, the majority of targeted cancer therapies have been administered as non-reimbursed despite being approved for early-stage treatment options in various cancer types. Lynparza is non-reimbursed for use as post-surgical adjuvant therapy. Therefore, Kim emphasizes that early-stage cancers should be treated with targeted therapies more. “Considering the overall medical costs, early-stage treatment is more beneficial. The initial treatment costs about KRW 20 million to 30 million per year. Such treatment lasts about two years, and costs continue to grow when treating beyond the period,” Kim said. “Therefore, in terms of the society, it is important to prevent recurrence and save costs afterward through early-stage treatments,” he added. Kim also emphasized the importance of setting reimbursement criteria for the cost of gBRCA gene screening. Currently, breast cancer patients carrying gBRCA mutations bear a greater burden due to non-reimbursed administration and the cost of gene screening. The current reimbursement criteria for gBRCA screening include △At least one family member or relative (up to third-degree relative) with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, male breast cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, or pancreatic cancer △Been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 or younger △Been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer, or breast cancer with concurrent ovarian or pancreatic cancer at age 60 or younger △Male breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients. Kim said, “gBRCA gene screening costs about KRW 20 million when reimbursed, which burdens patients to have it tested without reimbursement coverage. Screening is advised in the United States for those with triple-negative breast cancer, regardless of age. However, Korea’s reimbursement coverage is narrow, leading to missed cases of diagnosing patients with gene mutations.” And added, “Since mutations in gBRCA are found about 10% in patients with hormone-positive breast cancer, we have a higher possibility of missing the detection because they are excluded from the reimbursement coverage for screening.” “Because the breast cancer occurrence rate is high in Korea, and it can be higher, appropriate treatment is critical. In particular, patients’ access to innovative new drugs should be improved,” Kim commented. “In Korea, there are cases of providing patient accessibility by granting selective reimbursement when new cancer drugs are not reimbursed, but almost half of the patients give up on the treatment because of the costs. Therefore, we need a more flexible system,” Kim emphasized.
- InterView
- 'BMS will invest in and improve access to new drugs in KOR'
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Apr 15, 2024 06:06am
- Emma Charles, Senior Vice President of Intercontinental Markets at Bristol-Myers Squibb Multinational pharmaceutical companies are masters of adaptation and transformation. They adjust their pipelines and introduce new drugs through various mergers and acquisitions and technology export agreements to meet the rapidly changing trends in the healthcare industry. This involves a great deal of foresight. The companies need to assess the marketability of a new drug from the earliest stages of development, which is extremely costly and time-consuming. Bristol Myers Squibb is one representative company that has been actively adapting and seeking transformation. The company, which was once considered to have no item after its hepatitis B drug 'Baraclude Tab.' and theimmuno-oncology drug ‘Opdivo’ that it had co-developed with Ono Pharmaceutical, has received approval for 6 new drugs in Korea alone in the past 2 years after making small and large mergers and acquisitions, including the one with Celgene, which owns ‘Revlimid.’ In addition, the company has received reimbursement approval for the myelofibrosis treatment ‘Inrebic’, acute myeloid leukemia treatment ‘Onureg,’ plaque psoriasis treatment ‘Sotyktu,’ and ulcerative colitis treatment ‘Zeposia’ in Korea, and is working to list its obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy drug ‘Camzyos’ for reimbursement as well. Dailypharm met with Emma Charles, Senior Vice President of Intercontinental Markets at Bristol Myers Squibb, who recently visited Korea, to learn more about the company's vision and strategy. The VP is in charge of overseeing the international market, which includes Asia, Oceania, Canada and Latin America. -BMS had once been perceived as a pharmaceutical company that specialized in certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and diabetes, but the 6 new drugs you recently launched are all in different therapeutic areas. BMS is in the stage of opening a new chapter for the next decade. We have a number of activities underway to identify the direction we will take in the future, in therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, immunology, oncology, and hematology. In cardiovascular disease, we are working to develop a pipeline with new indications, including Camzyos, while building on our strengths. In immunology, we will maintain the long-standing leadership we built with our rheumatoid arthritis treatment ‘Orencia’ and continue to develop our new drug ‘Sotyktu’ as well as other drugs for autoimmune diseases such as lupus that are already underway. In addition, the areas of oncology and hematology will continue to serve as important pillars for BMS. -BMS has been actively securing various pipelines and drug candidates through mergers and acquisitions The company has sought aggressive M&A strategies for R&D to bring innovative new medicines to patients and continue growth. The company currently has over 30 pipelines in development. For example, the acquisition of RayzeBio and Mirati Therapeutics has strengthened our oncology area by adding targeted therapy candidates to our pipeline. We recently completed the acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics and acquired KarXT, which is indicated for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. We plan to launch the drug in the U.S. this year and roll the drug out globally in the future. South Korea is also a very important market for us in driving R&D. We are actively conducting R&D on about 50 drug candidates in Korea. Taken together, we expect BMS to achieve much growth over the next decade and beyond. -I heard that you are conducting clinical studies for the CAR-T drugs ‘Breyanzi’ and 'Abecma’ in Korea. Do you have any specific plans for their launch in Korea? Unlike oral drugs, CAR-T drugs require a complex process of sending the patient's blood to a laboratory to extract T cells and manufacture them into therapeutic drugs. BMS is currently exploring ways to facilitate the introduction of CAR-T therapies in intercontinental markets and which markets to first target. It is clear that South Korea is a ready market, that already has CAR-T therapies available and the capacity to manage the complexities involved in their supply. While it's difficult to say exactly when we'll be able to introduce our drug to Korea, we want you to know that we're committed to bringing this revolutionary new medicine to the world. -Korean companies have been focusing on exporting technology through open innovation rather than full development. I would like to hear the BMS's view on open innovation and Korea’s performance in the area. Innovation is at the core of everything we do at BMS. We invested approximately USD 9.29 billion in R&D last year to provide life-changing treatments for patients, a portion of which was used for open innovation. In fact, products developed through open innovation account for more than 60% of BMS's revenue, making open innovation an important part of BMS's DNA for sustaining R&D and building new pipelines. BMS continues to collaborate with biotechs in various regions with promising candidates, as evidenced by the recent technology transfer agreement we made with the Korean company Orum Therapeutics. The open innovation program in Korea is not the same as in other countries. This shows that Korea values science and innovative drug development. - 6 new drugs have been approved and 4 have entered reimbursement. This is a significant achievement considering Korea’s insurance system, but there are remaining challenges. Reimbursement is a global challenge; it is never easy in any country. We have to prove the drug’s value over the standard of care through clinical trials, and as we negotiate to bring first-in-class treatments to market in areas where there were no treatments, we have to also emphasize how introducing innovative new drugs can save direct and indirect cost compared to existing treatments. Korea’s reimbursement system, which requires the company to prove the value of treatment by designing a clinical study and confirming the efficacy and safety through it, must be challenging for the team. But I trust the Korean team. They are doing their best to build an ecosystem through cross-departmental collaboration to quickly deliver innovative new drugs to patients. -Korea is pushing to make the use of real-world data (RWD) or real-world evidence (RWE) mandatory in the post-marketing evaluation of new drugs. What is your opinion on this? First of all, regardless of the pros and cons, I think it is important to continue collecting RWE after a drug is approved for the benefit of the patients, clinical sites, and the industry. For example, the company is accumulating RWE on Eliquis on its value and safety profile for stroke prevention in patients around the world. We believe that RWE can be actively used during negotiations with regulatory authorities to illustrate its benefits to patients and its complementary economic benefits to hospitals and healthcare systems, but whether it is appropriate to include it as a requirement will depend on market conditions.
- InterView
- ‘New head, new drugs…Bayer’s transition has just begun'
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 25, 2024 05:59am
- JinA Lee, CEO of Bayer Korea Everyone gets stuck at some point. The difference is in how quickly you resolve the situation and carry on. The multinational pharmaceutical giant Bayer Korea was certainly ‘stuck’ at one point. Although the company had released and successfully sold liver cancer treatments ‘Nexavar’ and ‘Stivarga,’ the anticoagulant ‘Xarelto,’ and the wet age-related macular degeneration treatment ‘Eylea,’ no news of the next 'big thing' had risen for a while. Also, some of the company’s new drugs were approved but had difficulty receiving reimbursement. But Bayer pushed through and has carried on. In the past 6 months, the company has launched the heart failure drug Verquovo and chronic kidney disease drug Kerendia with reimbursement, exerting the company’s strong foothold in the market as a cardiovascular powerhouse. There was also another notable major change in the company. For the first time in the company's 70 years of existence, a Korean head was appointed to lead the company. The new CEO, Jin-A Lee (53) took over in November last year. This holds great significance and symbolism as the company had previously been led only by foreigners, including Friedrich-Wilhelm Gause, Niels Hessmann, and Ingrid Drechsel. Amid the whirlwind of change, Dailypharm met up with Jin-A Lee, CEO of Bayer Korea to learn more about Bayer's transition, the new products and the new leader.. -You are the first Korean CEO of Bayer Korea. Has the company's policy changed? This year marks the 69th anniversary of Bayer's launch in Korea, and we will be celebrating our 70th year next year. As with all global companies, the connection between the global headquarters, regional subsidiaries, and local markets is essential in promoting growth in the early stages of new market entry. That's why competent leaders from global headquarters had been appointed. However, these days, about 80% of global pharmaceutical companies are appointing local leadership to head their subsidiaries. I believe I can explain Bayer's unprecedented decision to appoint a Korean representative at this point in time in two ways. First, due to the rising importance of the Korean market, the company has demonstrated its leadership and capabilities, exposed to various opportunities and experiences. Korea is already a very competitive market and we have high expectations on its sustainable growth, especially as an insurance market. Another reason is Korea’s excellent R&D environment. Many global companies including Bayer have been conducting clinical trials in Korea, and Korea’s value in early clinical trials to Phase III, Phase IV, and even RWD (Real-World Data) research has become more prominent. - Bayer had been slow in releasing new drugs. And the recent launch of Verquovo and Kerendia seems to mark the start of a generational change in the company’s pipeline. What expectations do you have for the new drugs that were recently launched? Bayer is known for its broad portfolio of therapies in cardiovascular, ophthalmology, cancer, and women's health. As you may well know, it is also one of the world's top 5 pharmaceutical companies in the cardiovascular market, driven by sales of Aspirin and Xarelto. We believe Verquvo and Kerendia will continue on the legacy. The drugs were developed specifically to address the growing complexity of complex chronic diseases and this will be innovative growth drivers in the heart and kidney sector amid the aging population. In that aspect, we are also particularly excited about Kerendia. Among patients with diabetes, which is a major chronic disease, up to 40% of the patients with type 2 diabetes are known to have chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes accounts for half of the causes of end-stage renal failure in Korea. Unfortunately, no new reimbursed treatment option was introduced to this field for 20 years. And Kerendia became the first drug to target the unmet need in chronic kidney disease. - Let's talk about anti-cancer drugs. Many multinational companies are now focusing on strengthening their anticancer capabilities. It's become a trend. Bayer was considered a leader in liver cancer for a long time but hasn’t shown much progress since then. In Korea, the prostate cancer drug Nubeqa has been approved but is yet to be used actively in the field. In the case of Nubeqa, we are making multifaceted efforts to improve its access for prostate cancer patients in Korea in accordance with the domestic situation. However, it is still too early to give concrete updates on our progress. Most global pharmaceutical companies are indeed focusing on anticancer drugs these days, but Bayer seeks to provide new treatment options for a variety of diseases based on a balanced portfolio. Of course, this means that we will continue to work and discover innovative products in the field of cancer as well. - As you are Korean, you must have a good understanding of the Korean insurance reimbursement system. How do you plan to communicate with the government and the company hereon? As Korea has a single-payer market, limitations do exist due to limited finances. No matter how good or innovative a drug is, if it doesn't meet Korea’s insurance standards or doesn't meet the pharmacoeconomic evaluation criteria, it cannot be introduced into the country. This is very unfortunate. However the government is open to granting reimbursement for necessary drugs, so I think the role of the company is very important in communicating the value of our drugs, so we will focus on closing the gap between the two. For example, NTRK gene fusion cancer is a very rare cancer with a very small patient population, so we expected its reimbursement to be difficult. But Vitrakvi was successfully granted reimbursement based on its clinical efficacy and safety profile. We also worked tirelessly to convey the need for Kerendia and Verquvo in the Korean market to the global headquarters, and as a result, we were able to quickly release the drugs to the Korean market. -Bayer's organizational structure is changing at the headquarters level. The company has announced a new way of operations called ‘Dynamic shared ownership (DSO),’ which is a significant shift at the company level, organizing divisions by disease rather than by pipeline. A Korean subsidiary of another pharmaceutical company had face difficulties localizing such changes. Based on that, it seems a more flexible approach would be needed to apply the transition to your business operations. That is a very possible problem. Although DSOs can be termed differently in different companies, the model is becoming a trend in the global market. The idea is to create an agile organization that is better able to respond to situations to deliver value for patients and healthcare providers, but I would like to emphasize how Bayer is implementing the system differently in different countries, unlike others. Last year, the global CEO of Bayer held a conference with all of Bayer's subsidiaries. He said that changing the management system is similar to building a house and that you can't build an identical house in each country because the soil is different, and the environment is different. In other words, the big picture is the same, such as cutting through bureaucracy and simplifying approval processes, but the details and contextual decisions need to be tailored to each country.
- InterView
- “Solid position of JAK inhibitors despite ongoing concerns"
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Mar 15, 2024 05:48am
- Professor Seung Cheol Shim. JAK inhibitors, an 'oral drug' that initially gained attention in the field of autoimmune diseases, are now considered one of the treatment options. The first approved ‘Xeljanz (tofacitinib)’ has accumulated a ten-year prescription record. The fifth JAK inhibitor, ‘Jyseleca (filgotinib),’ is now available on the reimbursement listing. With their convenient oral administration, JAK inhibitors have emerged as favorable treatment options, providing an alternative to injectable anti-TNF inhibitors. In the medical field, JAK inhibitors are now considered a treatment option for patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. “Various treatment options are now available for treating autoimmune diseases, including anti-TNF inhibitors and interleukin inhibitors. However, some patients are unresponsive to existing medicines,” Professor Seung Cheol Shim of the Division of Rheumatology at Chungnam National University Hospital stated. “JAK inhibitor, which blocks inflammatory signaling within the cell unlike biological inhibitors, can provide solutions to unmet needs,” he added. However, safety concerns remain an issue that needs to be addressed with JAK inhibitors. In 2021, JAK inhibitors faced issues related to cardiovascular side effects. The U.S. FDA issued warnings about the risks of heart disease, cancer, and other safety issues associated with JAK inhibitors. Similarly, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) also distributed safety letters. Eventually, the FDA made a decision to include critical cardiovascular events, thrombosis, and mortality risks in boxed warning labels for JAK inhibitors. Although causality between the drug and adverse reactions has not been definitively proven, the safety concerns surrounding JAK inhibitors remain unresolved. “Due to these reasons, I still prefer anti-TNF inhibitors as the first-line treatment. It's not a matter of what's better. I have long experience prescribing anti-TNF inhibitors, and managing adverse reactions (such as tuberculosis) is also possible. However, while there may be hypotheses about JAK inhibitors, the exact cause remains unknown,” Shim explained. “Furthermore, considering the clear advantages of JAK inhibitors, they are often considered for relatively young patients with lower cardiovascular risks during their first medical examination,” Shim added. Some reimbursement criteria have yet to be addressed. While JAK inhibitors are expanding their indications to include atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, there are undoubtedly still areas of uncertainty. “Due to special exemption of calculation provisions, patients who meet the reimbursement criteria have significantly reduced economic burdens. However, patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis still do not receive benefits. In the case of ankylosing spondylitis, reimbursement prescriptions are only possible for patients with confirmed bone damage. These issues need to be addressed,” Shim stated. The medical field has long complained about the issue of cross-medication between JAK inhibitors. “While cross-medication reimbursement is approved for ankylosing spondylitis, it is not approved for rheumatoid arthritis. The issue lies in the limited availability of data regarding JAK inhibitors in South Korea. More data on JAK inhibitors must be collected to expand reimbursement criteria,” Shim emphasized.
- InterView
- ‘Yuhan expects Leclaza’s FDA approval this year'
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Feb 05, 2024 05:52am
- Wook-Je Cho (59), President, CEO & Executive Director of Yuhan Corp, has set global commercialization of its new anti-cancer drug Leclaza (lazertinib) as the company’s top priority this year. Last year, the company focused on the challenge of securing first-line reimbursement coverage for Leclaza in Korea. This year, he plans to move on to the global stage and focus on securing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Leclaza+Rybrevant combination therapy. In addition, he emphasized that the company will focus on global clinical trials of 28 drug candidates, including a treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and a treatment for obesity, to achieve the company’s goal of becoming a ‘top 50 global pharmaceutical company’ by 2026, the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. " Expect FDA approval of Rybrevant-Leclaza combination... results come out within the year" Wook-Je Cho, President, CEO & Executive Director of Yuhan CorpCEO Cho recently met with reporters and pointed to ‘FDA approval of Leclaza’ as his most anticipated achievement this year. Leclaza is the 31st novel drug to be developed in Korea. It had first received approval as a second-line treatment for patients with EGFR T790M mutation-positive, locally advanced, or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer who were previously treated with an EGFR-TKI. The past year, the company focused on expanding insurance reimbursement of Leclaza from second-line to first-line treatment. The company received approval for the drug’s first-line use from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in June last year and passed through the health insurance reimbursement gateway in 6 months since then. Leclaza has been reimbursed as a first-line treatment in Korea since January this year. The company’s next goal is global commercialization. Late last year, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for the approval of Leclaza in combination with its EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer drug Rybrevant (amivantamab) at the end of last year. The industry expects a decision to be made within this year. If Leclaza crosses the FDA threshold, it will be the first of Yuhan Corp's new drugs to enter the U.S. market. Cho said, "Together with Janssen, we look forward to pursuing U.S. and European approvals for the Rybrevant+Leclaza combination within the year. Also, we expect to see positive overall survival (OS) data following the progression-free survival (PFS) data we secured last year." The trial results for the use of the triple Rybrevant+Leclaza+chemotherapy combination therapy as a second-line treatment are also gaining attention. Janssen is currently conducting 2 studies - MARIPOSA and MARIPOSA-2. MARIPOSA is a study on the first-line use of the two-drug combination, Rybrevant+Leclaza, which the company had sought FDA approval for. At the same time, the company started a trial on the use of the 3-drug Rybrevant+Leclaza+chemotherapy combination as a second-line treatment through the MARIPOSA-2 study. The study enrolled patients who were previously prescribed Tagrisso. The second-line treatment trials are expected to provide faster market penetration results than first-line treatment trials because there is currently no treatment available after Tagrisso in the indication. Janssen and Yuhan are awaiting results on the recruitment of additional patients for the three-drug combination. Cho said, "We expect results from the Janssen-led global Phase III second-line therapy study to be available within a year," Cho said. "Will focus on discovering the next Leclaza, including treatments for MASH, allergies, and obesity" Cho also emphasized that the company will also speed up the discovery of its next Lekraza. The company is currently running non-clinical and clinical trials on its 28 drug candidates. One substance gaining particular attention is ‘YH25724,’ which is being developed as a treatment for MASH. In 2019, the company signed an out-licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim for YH25724, worth USD 870 million (approximately KRW 1 trillion). Boehringer Ingelheim entered the Phase I trial for the substance in Europe in 2021. A Phase 1b clinical trial is currently underway. It has a mechanism of action that simultaneously inhibits liver fibrosis and steatohepatitis while improving metabolic function. Boehringer Ingelheim and Yuhan Corp plan to first commercialize the product for MASH, and then expand its indication to diabetes and obesity. Also of interest is ‘YH35324,’ a candidate for the treatment of allergic diseases. This candidate has a mechanism of action that binds to immunoglobulin IgE and works on protein allergies. It is expected to be used as a treatment for chronic urticaria, food allergies, and asthma. Yuhan aims to complete the domestic Phase Ib study of YH35324 within the year and apply for approval of its Phase 2 trial plan by the end of the year. ‘YH32367,’ which is being developed as a bispecific antibody anticancer drug, is expected to enter Phase Ib clinical trials in the second half of the year. It activates target tumor-specific T cell immunity, and Yuhan Corp expects to be able to acquire indications for breast, gastric, and biliary cancers in the future. In addition, the company’s clinical development pipeline includes ‘YH14618’ for degenerative disc disease, ‘YH12852’ for gastrointestinal motility disorders, and ‘YH34160’ for obesity. YH34160 is a novel, long-acting obesity treatment candidate that targets the GDF15 fusion protein. It was approved for a Phase I clinical trial in the U.S. last year, and the company is currently exploring partners to proceed with its global clinical development. Cho plans to lay the foundation for long-term global expansion with the company’s broad clinical development pipeline. Cho said, “We will focus on expanding our pipeline to next-generation anticancer drugs and metabolic, fibrosis, and immune-inflammatory therapies and speed up our entry into early clinical and non-clinical trials. We want to secure a base to expand our late-stage pipeline in the long term." Cho added, "We will expand our pipeline by actively engaging in open innovation in Korea and abroad, in addition to our focus on in-house development. We will strengthen partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies to speed up existing development projects and increase potential for technology exports." Yuhan Corp rises as an ‘M&A bigshot..." will further expand investment this year" Cho said the company will also diversify its business through active M&A with domestic and foreign companies. The company has recently risen as a big M&A player in the domestic pharma and bio industry. Last year, it acquired Progen for KRW 30 billion to work together for the development of multi-target antibody therapeutics. It also invested KRW 5.7 billion in Fermentec to produce high-quality, low-cost probiotics. In 2022, Yuhan also invested a total of KRW 32.6 billion in 9 projects, including acquiring the probiotics manufacturer AtoGen for KRW 17.5 billion. The company's total investments in the last decade since 2014 totals almost KRW 602.4 billion in 54 companies. Cho explained, “We are continuously promoting new businesses to secure future growth engines while making strategic investments to strengthen existing businesses and develop R&D. We will continue to seek opportunities to become a total healthcare company this year."
- InterView
- Patent outlook after Forxiga withdrawal in Korea
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jan 24, 2024 12:37pm
- Forxiga If ‘Forxiga (dapagliflozin)’, a SGLT-2 inhibitor class treatment for diabetes, is withdrawn from the Korean market, the question is whether companies can begin selling generics containing the same active ingredient for the treatment of heart failure. The answer to the question is that selling Forxiga generics for the purpose of treating heart failure might be challenging. This is because the ‘method-of-use patent' describing the treatment of heart failure has been registered, regardless of the withdrawal of Forxiga from the Korean market. However, generic companies may have options available to treat kidney disease. AstraZeneca has completed the filing of the method-of-use patent for treating heart failure with the patent office. Yet, they must still complete the filing process for the method-of-use patent related to treating kidney disease. Even though the method-of-use patent for heart failure has been registered and listed for reimbursement, Forxiga withdraws from the Korean market In March 2020, AstraZeneca filed the method-of-use patent for Forxiga, which described its use in treating heart failure. The patent, titled ‘the use of dapagliflozin in treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction,’ is set to expire in March 2040. The company faced challenges before finally obtaining patent registration. Following the initial patent filing, the company received a rejection letter from the patent office and subsequently faced two more rejection decisions. AstraZeneca revised the patent statement three times before successfully registering the method-of-use patent with a description related to heart failure in February 2022. In July of the same year, the patent was listed with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Prior to this listing, in December 2020, the indication for 'the use of dapagliflozin in treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction' was added to the MFDS approval list. The expanded reimbursement will be applied to Forxiga. On the 19th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced that the reimbursement for SGLT-2 inhibitors, including Forxiga and Jardiance, will be expanded to the treatment of chronic heart failure, starting next month on the 1st. The issue is that AstraZeneca Korea decided to withdraw Forxiga from the Korean market between the time when the heart failure indication was added, and the reimbursement application was made. In December of last year, AstraZeneca announced its decision to withdraw Forxiga from the Korean market by the first half of this year. AstraZeneca explained it as a "portfolio restructuring decision." AstraZeneca has stated that the supply of Forxiga in Korea is secured enough until its withdrawal. However, there is concern that patients with heart failure may face limited access to Forxiga, as they will need to discontinue its once the remaining stock is depleted. Generic companies would need to challenge the 'method-of-use patent' related to the active ingredient to begin selling drugs for the treatment of heart failure The generic versions of Forxiga only have indications for type 2 diabetes because generic companies have not challenged the method-of-use patent. When generic companies began extensive patent challenges after 2015, the method-of-use patent for heart failure had not been registered. In technical terms, Forxiga generics cannot be marketed for the treatment of heart failure without nullifying the method-of-use patent. After last year’s flood of generics, certain companies used promotional materials claiming their products as being effective in treating heart failure. In response, the MFDS concluded in June last year that "promotion for the treatment of heart failure is a violation of the Pharmacist Act." As a result, companies that used such promotional materials faced a three-month suspension of advertising activities in August. Due to these reasons, generic companies are in a situation where they need to file for nullification of the patent for the use of Forxiga to treat heart failure. However, no generic companies have applied to nullify the patent for Forxiga for treating heart failure. "Many pharmaceutical companies are closely monitoring the potential nullification of the patent through cancellation applications, given AstraZeneca's decision to withdraw Forxiga," a pharmaceutical industry staff has commented and added, "Once AstraZeneca's stance becomes clear, generic companies will likely determine whether to challenge the patent for heart failure." "The headquarters are responsible for managing the patent-related matters, and there are currently no plans for patent cancellation," AstraZeneca has stated. AstraZeneca “undecided on canceling the patent”…Has not registered the kidney disease method-of-use patent The status of the patent for the treatment of kidney disease remains uncertain. Although the indication for kidney disease treatment has been added to the MFDS’s regulatory approval, an official patent has not yet been registered. AstraZeneca submitted a patent application titled 'the use of dapagliflozin in treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction' in April 2021. However, this patent has yet to be officially registered. The Patent Office has rejected the patent registration twice, and in response, AstraZeneca has filed an appeal against the rejection decision. If the patent for treating kidney disease is officially registered, generic companies may have the opportunity to challenge it through nullification proceedings and gain approval for the indication of kidney disease. However, the current situation is complicated because there is no registered patent for kidney disease treatment, making initiating a challenge through invalidation proceedings impossible. Generic companies may have two options. One option is to wait until the kidney disease method-of-use patent is finally registered and then initiate a nullification proceeding, following a path similar to the heart failure method-of-use patent. Another option is for generic companies to modify their generic approval by adding the kidney disease indication before it is officially registered. If the kidney disease method-of-use patent is registered later, generic companies can address any potential patent infringement lawsuits that AstraZeneca might file in response. Yet, it seems that no generic companies have applied for the addition of the indication for kidney disease at this time. Additionally, AstraZeneca has stated that they are still undecided about whether they will complete the patent registration process for kidney disease, similar to the heart failure patent.
- InterView
- ‘2nd line opt for CMV is limited…should improve access'
- by Son, Hyung-Min Jan 15, 2024 05:36am
- Sung Shin, Professor of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation at Asan Medical Center (Director of General Affairs, the Korean Society for Transplantation) An expert had suggested that we improve access to a new cytomegalovirus (CMV) treatment drug that has shown effect in patients with resistance as CMV has a major impact on transplanted organs. Sung Shin, Professor of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation at Asan Medical Center (Director of General Affairs, the Korean Society for Transplantation) expressed so at a meeting with Dailypharm, explaining how Livtencity, which has been shown to be effective in second-line treatment, could be beneficial amid the rising number of CMV patients developing resistance to existing first-line therapies. CMV is a member of the herpesvirus family that causes infectious diseases. The risk of CMV infection is particularly high after organ transplantation when the patient’s immunity is lowered. CMV is a common complication in kidney transplant patients, to the extent that around half of the patients report infections. If not treated in time, it can lead to a variety of complications, including pneumonia and lung inflammation, but treatment options are limited for patients who develop resistance to first-line therapy, raising the need for new second-line options. Takeda's CMV therapy, Livtencity (maribavir), has demonstrated efficacy in patients who are resistant or intolerant to existing first-line therapies. In clinical trials, Livtencity demonstrated more than double the CMV viremia clearance rate compared to existing treatment options and had lower toxicity. Professor Shin welcomed the introduction of a new class of antivirals for resistant and treatment-refractory CMV and emphasized the need for its reimbursement to increase patient access to Livtencity CMV, predominantly affects organ transplant patients, and can potentially be fatal Delayed treatment of CMV can lead to the infection of various organs. Especially in the early stages of transplantation, when immunity is low, it can lead to severe pneumonia, enteritis, sepsis, and even death. CMV infection is known to be especially prevalent in kidney transplant patients. More than 2,000 patients receive kidneys in Korea every year. According to reports, more than 50% of them are infected with CMV, and more than 10% of the infected patients show infected symptoms. As much as it is difficult to receive a kidney transplant, it is also important to manage various viruses after the transplant. Professor Shin said, “CMV infection is associated with earlier loss of function in the transplanted kidneys compared to uninfected patients. Also, CMV infection is associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal pneumonia and death from severe infections.” As such, early administration of effective antiviral therapy is important for organ transplant patients susceptible to infections. However, with a reported 60% resistance rate to existing first-line antivirals such as ganciclovir and valganciclovir, only a limited range of second-line CMV treatment options exist due to toxicity issues. MSD's Prevymis (letermovir) has emerged as a prophylactic therapy for CMV infection, but can only be used up to 100 days after organ transplantation. Professor Shin explained, "The goal of CMV treatment is the achievement of complete negative viral load. We consider the treatment a failure if the virus increases after 2 weeks of treatment or does not decrease sufficiently. This could be due to the virus itself being genetically resistant to antivirals or the patient's poor medication adherence to antivirals.” "After developing a resistance, patients may use the same drug again or consider using second-line options such as foscarnet or cidofovir. However, there are limitations to the use of these agents because of their severe nephrotoxicity, which can be fatal in kidney transplant patients." Livtencity enters the scene...showing promise in patients with resistant CMV Livtencity is the drug that can address these concerns. It works by inhibiting a kinase called UL97 that allows the virus to multiply inside the cellular host. The drug’s efficacy and safety compared to existing treatment were confirmed through the Phase III SOLSTICE study. Study results showed that Livtencity demonstrated a CMV viremia clearance rate of 55.7%, more than double the 23.9% achieved with valganciclovir/ganciclovir, foscarnet, or cidofovir arms that used the drugs alone or in combinations. Also, Livtencity is associated with fewer side effects compared to existing therapies. Patients taking immunosuppressants after transplant often have poor kidney function, and Livtencity reduced their dosing burden with its low toxicity. In terms of safety, Livtencity was associated with a 1.7% incidence of neutropenia. This was 15 times lower than the 25.0% in the ganciclovir/valganiclovir arm. "The negative conversion rate was better in the Livtencity arm, and the Livtencity arm also showed a significantly higher negative conversion rate at 16 weeks of follow-up. It also showed a lower rate of adverse events such as neutropenia and nephrotoxicity, with very few discontinuations due to adverse events being reported. Livtencity’s developer Takeda’s reimbursement application for its drug had passed the Drug Reimbursement Review Committee in December last year and the company has been negotiating drug prices with the National Health Insurance Service since this month. Professor Shin stressed that insurance reimbursement is necessary for Livtencity’s broader use to benefit more patients. Professor Shin emphasized, "CMV is a virus that has a significant adverse effect on the survival rate of all transplant recipients, even among the opportunistic infections that can occur with solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Delaying its treatment increases the risk of rejection, therefore, early and effective treatment is very important." He added, "In this regard, we should welcome the introduction of a new class of antivirals for resistant and treatment-refractory CMV, as it is a blessing for transplant patients in practice. Insurance coverage for the drug is all that more important as it relieves the Livtencity’s burden of cost for healthcare providers and patients in Korea."
