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- 2026-04-13 01:42:36
- Company
- Reducing # of sales positions of pharmaceutical companies
- by Moon, sung-ho Jan 12, 2022 06:04am
- It was found that the number of personnel engaged in the control and bio industries has steadily increased over the report showed. However, amid the boom in pharmaceuticals and bio, the position of sales workers is decreasing day by day. Analysts say this is because it is concentrated on the development of online sales and marketing and contract manufacturing organizations (CMO). According to the KPBMA on the 11th, the number of people engaged in the pharmaceutical and bio industries has steadily increased over the past 10 years, reaching 1,398 companies and 114,126 in 2020. Considering 823 companies and 74,477 people in 2011, it doubled. Such an increase in pharmaceutical and bio-industry workers was led by production workers. The number of production workers exploded from 23,539 in 2011 to 46,166 in 2020. As a result, the proportion of production workers among all pharmaceutical and bio-industry workers also increased from 31.6% to 40.5%. Analysts say that this was an opportunity for large bio companies such as Celltrion, Samsung Biologics, and SK Bioscience to expand their CMO businesses by increasing production facilities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales positions, which have been key in pharmaceutical and bio-industry jobs, have been greatly reduced over the past 10 years. This is because the size of the sales position remained in place while the number of production workers doubled during the same period. The total number of sales jobs in 2020 was 25,317. Considering that there were 24,535 people in 2011, it is safe to say that it remains the same. The percentage of sales positions decreased from 32.9% in 2011 to 22.2% in 2020. In fact, as the proportion of production workers has increased, the proportion of sales workers has decreased. The industry seems to predict that the proportion of sales jobs will decrease over the years. They say that the position will inevitably decrease as consignment production of medicines, utilization of Contracts Sales Organization (CSO) by mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, and the spread of online sales and marketing are major factors. Some predict that large-scale movements of pharmaceutical sales workers will take place amid the growth of the digital healthcare industry. This is because in the digital healthcare sector, like in the pharmaceutical and bio sectors, hiring sales personnel is essential as its use in hospitals and clinics is directly related to the increase in sales. Digital healthcare companies that develop EMR or medical AI solutions are increasing their employment as sales workers at pharmaceutical companies. Company A, which is developing EMR, is hiring "someone who wants to sell data technology, not oral drugs," while company B is hiring people with experience in sales at university hospitals at the team leader level. An executive of a domestic pharmaceutical company, a former doctor who asked for anonymity, said, "It is now difficult to grow with the operation method of a traditional pharmaceutical company that relies on generic sales centered on face-to-face sales." As consignment production of medicines is suggested as an alternative to growth, traditional pharmaceutical companies are also focusing their capabilities on developing new drugs and producing drugs, he explained.
- Product
- The gov is pushing to supply COVID-19 PO tx with pharmacies
- by Kang, Shin-Kook Jan 12, 2022 06:04am
- The government is taking full-fledged steps to supply COVID-19 PO treatment to pharmacies. The Central Disaster and Safety Counters Headquaters (CDSCHQ) will hold an online meeting this afternoon (10th) with drug organizations participating and discuss oral corona treatment prescriptions and dispensing. In other words, the direction of the CDSCHQ has been virtually determined from prescription, preparation, and drug delivery. The CDSCHQ will then provide online education on preparation, medication guidance, and precautions to 270 pharmacies nationwide that are in charge of supplying oral corona treatments. The decision is based on the judgment that education is needed because the method of taking the medicine is complicated. The main dosage of Paxlovid should be taken Nimatrelvir 300 mg (2 pink tablets of 150mg) and Ritonavir 100mg , twice a day (12 hours) for 5 days. According to the CDSCHQ, Pfizer's Paxlovid is expected to enter Korea around the 13th, with initial supplies expected to be less than 50,000 people. According to the current status of government contracts, treatments for a total of 1 million and 44,000 people have been secured, including Paxlovid foe 762,000 people and MSD Molnupiravir for 242,000 people. Oral treatments can be used in mild and moderate patients with high probability of severe illness. However, as the volume is limited, it is highly likely to be administered to elderly patients aged 60 or older in hospitals or life treatment centers. People with underlying diseases such as chronic lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity can also be targeted. The method of delivery of the drug has not been decided yet. More than 270 pharmacies nationwide, which are in charge of preparing drugs for home care patients, prepare and supply oral treatments as regional bases. Now, when a doctor gives a prescription, the pharmacy dispenses medicine, and public health centers and local government employees deliver the medicine to home treatment patients. Discussions are still underway over whether oral treatments will follow this method or whether pharmacies will be in charge of delivery. An official from the MOHW said, "We discussed with the Pharmaceutical Association on the 7th about the delivery method, but it was not concluded," adding, "In the beginning, it could be a direction to expand the role of pharmacies in the future."
- Company
- Pharmaceutical bio jobs to be reorganized
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jan 12, 2022 06:04am
- Jobs in the pharmaceutical bio industry have increased by more than 50% in the past nine years. The number of production workers surged. In recent years, it is analyzed that many jobs have been created in production jobs as pharmaceutical bio companies have greatly increased production facilities and expanded their CMO business. The proportion of sales jobs in all jobs dropped sharply. According to the 2021 Pharmaceutical Bio Industry Data Book published by the KPBMA on the 10th, the total number of employees in the pharmaceutical bio industry in 2020 was 114,126, an increase of 10.9% year-on-year. It increased 53.2% in nine years from 74,477 in 2011. # of employees in the pharmaceutical bio-industry by year (unit: # of employee, data: the KPBMA) Jobs in the pharmaceutical bio industry have increased every year since 2011. Analysts say that the pharmaceutical bio-industry has recently shown growth and is playing a significant role in creating jobs. Looking at the current status of jobs by major task, the number of production workers has increased significantly. In 2020, the number of production employees was 46,166, an increase of 24.1% from the previous year. It doubled in nine years from 25,539 in 2011. The share of production workers in the entire pharmaceutical bio industry expanded from 31.6% in 2011 to 40.5% in 2020. In 2011, sales workers accounted for the largest portion of all employees, but in 2020, the proportion of production employees exceeded 40%. It is analyzed that the number of production jobs has increased significantly recently as production facilities have increased significantly and CMO businesses have expanded, especially among bio companies. Founded in 2011, Samsung Biologics is currently operating three biopharmaceutical plants in Songdo, Incheon. Samsung Biologics is building its fourth plant with the aim of operating it in 2023. The fourth plant is the largest ever with 256,000 liters of production. When the fourth plant is in operation, Samsung Biologics will secure a total of 618,000 liters of production facilities along with its third plant (3,000 liters of first plant, 152,000 liters of second plant, and 180,000 liters of third plant). As of the end of 2020, the number of production workers at Samsung Biologics was 1,255, an 87.6% increase from 669 in 2016. In other words, the number of production jobs has nearly doubled in four years. Celltrion and SK Bioscience also saw a significant increase in the number of production workers due to the recent surge in biopharmaceutical production. Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, and SK Bioscience all surpassed 100 billion won in quarterly operating profit, leading the growth of the entire pharmaceutical bio industry. The proportion of sales jobs in the pharmaceutical bio industry has decreased significantly. In 2020, the number of sales employees was 25,317, down 1.0% from the previous year. Sales jobs were the only ones among all jobs that saw a year-on-year. The number of sales employees increased only 3.2% over the past nine years from 24,535 in 2011 to 25,317 in 2020. Sales accounts for more than 10% of all jobs from 32.9% in 2011 to 22.2% in 2020. Although the pharmaceutical bio-industry is growing, the proportion of sales jobs is also expected to decrease as sales activities are relatively less important. Analysts say that sales activities based on scientific evidence have increased significantly rather than salespeople's supply offensive. Some say that the need for salespeople to visit medical institutions in person has been reduced as the proportion of non-face-to-face work such as online marketing has decreased significantly since the recent spread of COVID-19. The proportion of office and research jobs did not change significantly. The proportion of office workers increased by 1.5% from 19.4% in 2011 to 20.9% in 2020, while the number of research workers decreased by 0.1% from 11.8% to 11.7% during the same period.
- Company
- Soliris at risk of price cuts amid increasing PA rejections
- by Moon, sung-ho Jan 12, 2022 06:04am
- The National Health Insurance Service has selected ‘Soliris (eculizumab)’ as a ‘subject for PVA monitoring’ and began monitoring its claims amount, believing that its use has increased over a certain level. However, all of the prior authorization applications for the same drug had been rejected last month. In other words, the drug is double trouble as it is being assessed for price cuts due to its increased claims amount while being rejected for reimbursement in its prior authorization applications. According to the industry on the 6th, the NHIS had selected and informed companies of the drugs under the Price-Volume Agreement that will be evaluated in the first quarter of 2022, including Soliris. The PVA system is a means for the NHIS and the pharmaceutical company to share the amount of rising drug cost that is applied to drugs whose usage increases rapidly. After negotiations with the NHIS, the company needs to maintain the use volume that it has agreed upon to avoid price cuts. Therefore, drugs that are found to have been used over that certain level according to the NHIS’ claims amount may be subject to price cuts, being subject for the adjustment of its upper limit. Soliris is also known to have been caught under NHIS’ radar for exceeding the claims amount. If the NHIS deems that Soliris’ use volume has increased after monitoring its case, the authorities will conduct negotiations with its company, Handok, and push for price cuts. An NHIS official said, “We will be selecting subjects for negotiations after monitoring the evidence. Soliris is also one of the drugs being monitored. The drugs up for monitoring this time are those whose claims have increased by 30% or more or those that have increased over 60% annually during the compared period or by over 10%‧5 billion won.” However, one thing to note is that Soliris’s applications for prior authorization are being being continuously disapproved for reimbursement by the NHIS. Soliris is currently indicated for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). However, due to the high price of the drug – which costs 5.13 million won per vial – the MOHW and HIRA had set a hurdle that requires prior authorization for insurance benefit when approving the drug for reimbursement. And according to HIRA, all 3 of the prior authorization applications (2 new, 1 re-deliberation case) made for Soliris that were deliberated by the Healthcare Review and Assessment Committee in November last year were rejected. All 3 applications were for the use of Soliris in aHUS. For aHUS treatment, only 3 of the 47 applications filed for prior authorization last year were approved and administered to patients. As a result, although Soliris is not being administered much due to the series of disapprovals by NHIS during the prior authorization review, the drug is still subject to monitoring for price cuts due to its expanded indication that raised the claims amount. HIRA explained, “The applications were denied after reviewing the supplementary medical records that were submitted because the subjects were not eligible for administration as specified in the notice and were determined to have secondary thrombotic microangiopathy that was caused by drugs such as immunosuppressants.”
- Company
- Ultra-high-priced ‘Kymriah’ is up for DREC deliberations
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 11, 2022 06:29am
- Whether the new CAR-T therapy ‘Kymriah’ will be applied insurance benefit is receiving wide attention. According to industry sources, the world’s first chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy ‘Kymriah' will be deliberated as an agenda by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee on the 13th of this month, 3 months after the agenda passed the Cancer Disease Deliberation Committee in October last year. Specifically, the drug is indicated for ▲ adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, and ▲ patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse Reimbursement listing of Kymirah is currently the biggest and hottest issue in the industry as this ‘one-shot’ treatment may cure cancer with a single administration but costs up to 500 million won per shot. The company had been going through the reimbursement process for Kymriah since it was approved in March last year through the ‘approval-reimbursement review linkage system.’ Although it was first set an agenda for CDDC deliberation in September, the committee deferred their decision. Immediately upon the news of deferral, the Korea Leukemia Patients Organization strongly criticized the government and the pharmaceutical company. The KLPO had before criticized the authorities over the delay in Kymriah’s agenda being put up for deliberation by the CDDC. Despite overcoming the CDDC obstacle, whether Kymriah will be able to complete its reimbursement journey to the end remains unknown. The CDDC may have passed the Kymriah agenda to DREC pressured by the intense attention focus around the agenda. Therefore DREC’s role is expected to be an important observation point that will play a key role in the listing process. Meanwhile, the CDDC had set the reimbursement standards for Kymriah so that the following conditions should be met for its reimbursement: ▲the company should bear a higher-level risk in consideration of the price level in other countries, ▲a risk-sharing system based on a performance-based payment model that pays according to treatment performance of each patient for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as it has a poorer clinical outcome compared to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and ▲an expenditure cap should be set on the total expenditure allowed for Kymriah. In other words, the key to the reimbursement listing of Kymriah depends on the fiscal sharing plan submitted by Novartis’ Korean subsidiary and its determination in persuading its head office.
- Policy
- Lee wants to cover infertility, contraception, HPV vaccines
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Jan 11, 2022 06:29am
- With the rising heat over the insurance coverage of hair loss treatments that was mentioned by presidential candidate Jae-Myn Lee, other healthcare-related election pledges made by the presidential candidates are also being reilluminated. Lee, who is planning to publically announce his pledge promising the insurance coverage of hair loss treatments, had previously already pledged to expand insurance coverage for infertility couples, contraception and abortion, and HPV vaccines. On the 7th, Lee’s camp announced that its policy team was reviewing the hair loss treatment coverage plan to set a specific pledge. Lee said that hair loss is not a cosmetic issue but a disease, therefore, his camp is seriously reviewing its details such as health insurance coverage targets, proportion, and required finances. In particular, he said that covering hair loss treatments should be positively considered because the coverage could be provided at an annual cost of 100 billion won. In addition, Lee is also known to be considering applying health insurance to wigs and hair transplants. In addition to the pledge for hair loss treatments, Lee had also made a number of pledges to expand health insurance coverage to various other areas. More specifically, Lee had announced the reimbursement of infertility-related treatment cost, contraception and abortion, and HPV vaccination for adolescents as part of his ‘small but definite happiness pledges.’ In covering infertility treatments, Lee said he will simplify the complicated number and support amount set for various parts of the in-vitro fertilization procedure and expand insurance coverage to necessary pharmaceuticals including ovulation inducers. Also, basic tests to identify infertility status will be added to the regular health examination items and promised emotional and psychological support through the provision of counseling vouchers, etc. to infertility couples. The contraception and abortion pledge promises insurance coverage for modern contraceptive procedures and well medical practice for the termination of pregnancies. This pledge may not only benefit contraception and abortion treatment but lead to the reimbursement of the abortion pill ‘Mifegymiso’ that may soon be granted marketing authorization in Korea. Lee also pledged to expand the subject for free HPV vaccinations to all adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, male and female. In addition, he said he will change the name of the vaccination project from ‘First step for women’s health clinic project’ that is currently being used to ‘HPV vaccine national inoculation project.’ HPV, which causes cervical cancer in women and anal cancer in both men and women, is infectious regardless of gender, so Lee believes that the government should bear the cost of its vaccination so that both men and women can get vaccinated in a timely manner. In addition, Lee is known to be reviewing covering dental implants in addition to hair loss treatments as his insurance coverage expansion pledge. Currently, people aged over 65 are applied insurance for dental implants, and the number of teeth covered is limited to 2 for each person. Lee is reviewing extending the coverage to 4 teeth per person. Lee had mentioned his position on MBC’s 100 Minute Debate on the 6th. Lee said, “ Implants are also one of the NHI coverage agendas I am considering. 2 are not enough to chew. We need to cover at least 4 teeth implants.” The ruling party's leading candidate’s series of health insurance benefit expansion pledges have led the presidential election stage to focus on each candidate’s healthcare pledges. In response to Lee’s hair loss treatment pledge, Cheol-soo Ahn, presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, pledged to reduce the price of hair loss drug generics and said that Lee’s pledge would worsen the financial status of the current national health insurance. Members of the leading opposition party had also set out to criticize Lee’s pledge as populism that undermines the domestic health insurance application procedures and standards that were just made to attract votes. In response to the populism criticism, the Democratic Party plans to hold a meeting to comprehensively review the coverage of hair loss treatments including the possibility of expanding NHI finances and the establishment of medical standards, then announce it as an election pledge.
- Policy
- Alopecia belongs to the health sector, benefits are possible
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Jan 11, 2022 06:29am
- Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung claimed that the application of health insurance for hair loss treatments is a health pledge to alleviate public pain, and said he is reviewing the targets, ratios, and amounts through experts in the camp. He said that if pain relief is possible at an annual cost of around 100 billion won, we should think positively, but that it is necessary to discuss to what extent we will apply health insurance and to what extent. He said in MBC's current affairs program "100 Minute Discussion" on the 6th, "It is said that health insurance finances will collapse over the application of hair loss health insurance, and if an additional 100 billion won is paid annually, the drug price will be cheaper." He said that people who do not suffer from hair loss can never understand the pain caused by hair loss, adding that the application of health insurance related to hair loss belongs to the health field related to diseases, not welfare at the beauty level. He also said that the application of health insurance for hair loss should be viewed positively. However, he expressed his position that analysis and discussion are needed to determine to what extent insurance should be applied. He said, "People who are worried about hair loss are really in pain and the cost of medicine is quite burdensome. If there is anything that the people are in pain, it is the role of the government to alleviate and resolve it." He said, "If health insurance coverage for hair loss belongs to beauty, it is close to welfare, but it is a health area because it relieves pain. In the past, the Park Geun Hye government covered scaling. "At that time, it is not understandable to say that it distributes health insurance for hair loss, which costs about 100 billion won a year, rather than distributing it recklessly," he stressed. Candidate Lee said, "We need to think positively about the application of hair loss health insurance. However, it is necessary to discuss to what extent and to what extent it will be done. Experts are reviewing health insurance targets, support, ratio, and amount. The policy is to find a compromise. We will try to adjust it appropriately so that the majority opinion is not excluded."
- Policy
- 22 companies' Dapagliflozin+Sitaglipin were approved
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 11, 2022 06:28am
- DongKoo Bio has obtained a number of drugs that are the same as the new diabetes drug "Dapagliflozin+Sitagliptin" approved on the 23rd of last month. A large number of consignment items produced by Dongkoo Bio have entered. Dapagliflozin+Sitaglipin is a new combination complex that has never been released before, but competition has become inevitable as many pharmaceutical companies have secured it even before its launch. On the 4th, the MFDS approved 22 items combined with Dapagliflozin+Sitaglipin. Licensed pharmaceutical companies are Aprogen, Aju, PharmGen Science , NBK Pharm, Jin Yang, Dae Hwa, Myung Moon, GC Pharma, Dongkwang, Lite pharm tech, Binex, SCD Pharm, Daewoo, Kukje, Shinpoong, Ilyang, Reyonpharm, Ildong, Yungjin Pharm, Hana, Guju, and Sinil. All of these items are commissioned and produced by DongKoo Bio. DongKoo Bio is said to have shared the permit data with them. DongKoo and consignment companies signed contracts before July when the so-called "consignment biological equivalence limitation 1+3" system was implemented, so 22 companies were able to obtain permission this time. If the contract was made after the system was implemented, DongKoo could share product data with only three companies and produce consignment. Dapagliflozin (Forxiga) is an SGLT-2 inhibitory diabetes treatment and has recently grown rapidly in the diabetes treatment market. AZ's Forxiga, the original drug, recorded 18.3 billion won in outpatient prescriptions (based on UBIST) in the first half of last year. Sitagliptin (Januvia) is a DPP-4 inhibitory drug that has long been leading the market. MSD's Januvia recorded 21.2 billion won in outpatient prescriptions in the first half of the year. The domestic pharmaceutical industry expects that both ingredients will generate a lot of sales if they are developed as a complex because they are widely used in medical sites and frequently combined prescriptions. Both ingredients cannot be sold to the market before September 2023 because their material patents have not expired. In addition, domestic insurance authorities have not yet established a salary standard for a combination of SGLT-2 and DPP-4 components. However, it seems that many consignment companies have participated in the approval in advance because it is difficult to hold new products if there are expectations for success and the consignment biological equivalence restriction system is implemented. Two days before Dongkoo Bio's product was approved, Daewon Pharmaceutical received its first approval for Dapacombi (Dapagliflozin+Sitagliptin). It is said that Daewon is considering the exclusive launch.
- Policy
- Chong Kun Dang applied for combination of Januvia+Forxiga
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jan 10, 2022 11:40am
- Chungjeong-ro Headquarters of Chong Kun DangA combination of diabetes treatments Januvia (Sitagliptin) and Forxiga (Dapagliflozin) is gaining popularity among domestic pharmaceutical companies. Although it can only be released after September next year due to patent rights issues, many domestic pharmaceutical companies are developing products. According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 6th, Chong Kun Dang recently applied for permission from the MFDS for a combination of Sitagliptin+Dapagliflozin. Combination of Sitagliptin+Dapagliflozin succeeded in commercialization for the first time in Korea on the 21st of last month when Dapacombi of Daewon Pharmaceutical obtained permission. Two days later, Dongkoo Bio's Sitaflozin, the same ingredient as Dapacombi, was approved. On the 4th, 22 items from other pharmaceutical companies entrusted by Dongkoo Bio were approved and the number of related items increased to 24. Pharmaceutical companies that started developing products for the purpose of product approval include Alvogen Korea, GL Pharm Tech, SK Chemical, and Theagen Etex. Alvogen was approved by the MFDS in October 2020, GL Pharm Tech in March last year, SK Chemical in September last year, and Theagen Etex in December last year. Chong Kun Dang seems to have applied for permission by completing the development ahead of them. However, even if commercialization is successful, it is expected to be after September 2023, when Januvia's material patent ends. The reason why many domestic companies are developing products is that commercial expectations are high. This is because the two components are the flagship items of SGLT-2 and DPP-4 inhibitors, which are currently leading the diabetes treatment market, and the proportion of prescriptions using both drugs in combination at the treatment site is high. Based on UBIST, Januvia's outpatient prescription amount in the first half of last year was 21.2 billion won, and Forxiga's outpatient prescription amount was 18.3 billion won, ranking at the top of the market. Combination of Januvia+Forxiga is the first product introduced by a domestic pharmaceutical company without an overseas original product, so expectations are high for market creation by domestic pharmaceutical company sales. However, more than 20 pharmaceutical companies have already been approved, so it is difficult for any one company to be exclusive, which is considered a limitation in generating profits. There are no overseas products with the same ingredients, but there are three overseas original products of the same category (DPP-4+SGLT-2) combination, so if they are reimbursed, there will be little market preoccupation effect. In the industry, it is highly observed that top companies with large-scale customers such as Chong Kun Dang will eventually take the lead over other companies in terms of market share.
- Company
- Keytruda's reimbursment to be deliberated at DREC meeting
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jan 10, 2022 05:56am
- The immuno-oncology drug ‘Keytruda’ is finally on its next step to reimbursement after passing Cancer Disease Deliberation Committee's review. According to industry sources, reimbursement expansion of MSD Korea’s PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) will be deliberated by the National Health Insurance Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee on the 13th of this month. Keytruda was able to finally reach the DREC doorsteps, six months after the agenda passed the CDDC meeting last July and four years after it first applied for the reimbursement expansion to its indications including as first-line treatment in non-small cell cancer (NSCLC) Since MSD failed to put the agenda up for deliberation at the DREC meeting that was held last November, the company had expressed its will to complete that and the pricing negotiations with NHIS within that year but was unable to make progress even in December of the same year. However, although the CDDC had passed the agenda, it had once again mentioned the need for equity with Tecentriq to MSD and requested additional revision to the company’s fiscal sharing plan. Therefore, the industry's eyes are on what the DREC results will be. At the time, MSD Korea’s Managing Director Kevin Peters had said, “The company is deeply aware of the urgency felt by the many lung cancer patients and HCPs during the past 4 years while awaiting reimbursement of Keytruda in first-line lung cancer. We are focusing all efforts on internal and external discussions so we could proceed with relevant procedures as quickly as possible after CDDC deliberations.” The biggest barrier to expanding reimbursement for Keytruda was the ‘pharmaceutical company taking the burden of the initial 3 cycles’ worth of administration cost’ requested by the government to companies with immunotherapy agents. Roche Korea, which owned the then-latecomer ‘Tecentriq (atezolizumab),’ was the only company to accept the government’s proposal, and 2 types of PD-1 inhibitors – Keytruda and ‘Opdivo(nivolumab)’ were unable to accept the offer and has not been approved for the reimbursement extensions until now.
