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- 2025-12-21 18:01:22
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- Lilly retries to make RET-targeted therapy accessible
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 08, 2025 06:09am
- Product photo of Retevmo Cap Patients are hopeful again for RET-targeted cancer therapy, a treatment option once deemed 'pie in the sky.' According to industry sources, Lilly Korea has recently submitted an application for insurance reimbursement listing for its RET (REarranged during Transfection) inhibitor 'Retevmo (selpercatinib),' indicated for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Retevmo, which was approved in South Korea in March 2022, had not passed the Cancer Disease Review Committee (CDRC) of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in May of the same year. The drug passed the CDRC in November and the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) in May 2023. Upon clearing the DREC review, Retevmo was anticipated to be reimbursed as the company entered a pricing negotiation with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in June. However, an agreement had not been met. It was the sole unsuccessful drug pricing negotiation of that year. Consequently, it was expected that RET cancer therapy would not be readily accessible in South Korea. Two RET cancer therapies are domestically approved. In addition to Retevmo, 'Gavreto (pralsetinib),' introduced by Roche Korea from Blueprint Medicines Corp, exists. However, Gavreto's inclusion in the reimbursement list became difficult due to Roche withdrawing the sales rights. Lilly's Korean subsidiary has recently made progress. However, it remains uncertain whether the company will finalize the reimbursement listing process. Retevmo was conditionally approved for agreement to meet the Phase 3 trial requirement. However, the company's application for listing process lacked a Phase 3 study and was asked to submit a document equivalent to the requirement. For this reason, criticism arose regarding the evaluation criteria for the drug that had been conditionally approved to expedite its introduction. This was because the company had quickly applied for listing under the approval–evaluation linkage system, underwent discussions on reimbursement for about a year and a half but ultimately failed. There is still room for a turnaround. Proper Phase 3 trial results are now in hand. What now matters is Lilly's and the government's commitment to introducing a RET-targeted cancer therapy. At the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO 2023) annual meeting, the results of Retevmo's Phase 3 trials, LIBRETTO-431 and LIBRETTO-531, were each disclosed. Those results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The LIBRETTO-431 study presented at the conference compared Retevmo with platinum-based chemotherapy±pembrolizumab in the first-line treatment of patients with progressive or metastatic RET fusion–positive NSCLC. The key result was that, in the ITT-pembrolizumab cohort, the median progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by the blinded independent central review (BICR) was 24.8 months in the Retevmo-treated group versus 11.2 months in the control group, with a hazard ratio of 0.465. The overall response rate (ORR) by BICR was also significantly higher in the Retevmo group at 83.7% compared to 65.1% in the control group. Meanwhile, Retevmo was granted accelerated approval, priority review, and Breakthrough Therapy & Orphan Drug Designation in the United States in 2020. Then, it was approved as the first treatment option for the treatment of cancer patients with RET gene mutations.
- Company
- BIO KOREA 2025 'Innovation and Collaboration'
- by Whang, byung-woo May 08, 2025 06:09am
- With open innovation emerging as a key topic for fostering a bio ecosystem, scalability based on networking has become a necessity rather than a choice. BIO KOREA 2025, which opened on the 7th, also kicked off its three-day journey with various programs under the theme of “Innovation and Collaboration: Building the Future Together,” marking its 20th anniversary. In particular, amid various crises and concerns such as investment contraction and the anticipated U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals, cooperation for business exchange and synergy creation were emphasized. First held in 2006, BIO KOREA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year Yuhan Corp and Celltrion take center stage…Amgen’s first participation draws attention Last year, the main booths at the exhibition were occupied mainly by contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), but this year, Yuhan Corporation and Celltrion’s booths were positioned at the entrance, in the most visible spots. Both companies have recently expanded their influence in the global market based on Leclaza (Lazertinib) and biosimilars, respectively. On the day of the exhibition, Yuhan Corp placed Leclaza at the center of its booth and emphasized that it was the first domestic anticancer drug to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Leclaza has recently been approved by the US FDA as a combination therapy and is rapidly advancing into the global market. Through this event, Yuhan Corp sought to highlight the global competitiveness of Leclaza and expand opportunities for cooperation with overseas partners. Yuhan Corporation and Celltrion were located at the main booths of the exhibition. (Top photo) Yuhan Corporation Celltrion was the first company visited by key guests during the exhibition tour. Vice President Bumsung Kim, who introduced the company, emphasized the company’s position in the global market, highlighting that Celltrion is the world's first developer of antibody biosimilars. Celltrion set out to actively engage in communication at the exhibition as it is seeking global expansion through new drug development and open innovation projects using ADCs in addition to biosimilars. Among multinational pharmaceutical companies, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which participated last year, and Amgen, which set up an independent booth for the first time this year, stood out. Amgen was the only multinational pharmaceutical company to be certified as a “Korea innovative pharmaceutical company” by the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the end of last year, in recognition of its contribution to research and development and investment for the creation of an innovative ecosystem for new drug development in Korea. Amgen’s main purpose for participating in this exhibition was to expand its network by increasing contact with domestic companies. Amgen highlighted that it has expanded its open innovation program “Bio Day & Pitching Day,” which it has been conducting with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute since 2024, to nurture domestic biotech ventures into a global program called “Golden Ticket.” Seung-Jae Lee, Medical TA Lead at Amgen, said, “We are operating open innovation programs such as the Golden Ticket program with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute to create a domestic bio ecosystem and discover and foster venture companies. We will continue to grow together with Korean bio companies through continuous investment in open innovation.” Amgen showcased its commitment to strengthening open innovation by setting up its first independent booth. (From left) Amgen and J&J booths. Sweden participates for the second consecutive year, Netherlands participates for the first time... Operating National Pavilions, seeking to strengthen cooperation In addition to Australia, which has participated every year, Sweden and the Netherlands operated booths in the form of national pavilions this year to actively explore possibilities for cooperation in the bio industry. Currently, the Swedish government has designated the life sciences industry as a core area of national competitiveness and is promoting global cooperation and innovation based on government-led strategies and world-class research infrastructure. In particular, on the same day, an official from the Swedish Trade and Investment Council in Korea expressed interest in creating synergy in the field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) in conjunction with the revision and implementation of Korea's Advanced Regenerative-Bio Act. Sweden is a leading country in the field of advanced regenerative medicine, and CCRM Nordic (Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Nordic), a Swedish non-profit organization, is responsible for ATMP research and development, industrial ecosystem development, and business growth support across Northern Europe and Europe. An official from the Swedish Trade and Investment Council in Korea said, “We believe that there is still a lack of awareness about Sweden's life science industry in Korea, so we decided to participate for the first time for two consecutive years. We have been actively promoting industry awareness since last year, and as BIO EUROPE was held in Sweden last year, we plan to continue discussions in line with that as well.” (Clockwise from top left) Australia Pavilion, Sweden Pavilion, Germany Pavilion, Netherlands Pavilion The Netherlands also emphasized the technological capabilities and the will to cooperate of its companies and expressed its hope for expanded partnerships with Korean biotech companies. As this is its first participation, the Netherlands plans to use this event to identify the needs of companies and expand cooperation in the future. A representative from the Dutch Embassy said, “There are various bio companies in the Netherlands, so we decided to participate to help them enter the Korean market. Currently, there are consulting companies and early-stage companies seeking to enter the market, and we plan to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the future.” Seeking to expand Bio Korea partnerships... still lacks substance Business partnering at the exhibition, which has become increasingly important recently, has significantly expanded global partnering opportunities for domestic biotech companies. Through business meetings with companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, MSD, Takeda, Roche, Novo Nordisk, ST Pharm, and SK Bioscience, plans are in place to create opportunities for new partner discovery, technology cooperation, and joint research discussions. As there had been criticism in the past that there were not enough partnership opportunities, this year's event has expanded the scale of partnering by about 21% compared to last year, focusing on broadening opportunities. At BIO KOREA 2025, partnering opportunities increased by 21% compared to last year. However, with many companies seeking partnering opportunities through overseas exhibitions, there have been suggestions that domestic exhibitions need to have more “substance” to ensure continuity. A representative from a biotech company that set up a booth at BIO KOREA stated, “While it is a positive change in terms of increasing the scale and opportunities for partnerships, there are still areas that fall short when compared to overseas exhibitions. For companies in the Asia-Pacific (APEC) region, there may be good business development opportunities, but given that global companies' headquarters are unlikely to attend, there is a need to reconsider the direction.”
- Company
- Industry asks US to exempt Korean drugs from tariffs
- by Kim, Jin-Gu May 08, 2025 06:09am
- In preparation for the US government's potential imposition of tariffs on pharmaceuticals, the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO) has followed the Ministry of Health and Welfare in submitting an official opinion statement. The opinion statement submitted to the US government states that South Korea is a reliable partner in the US medicine supply chain and is capable of supplying expensive prescription drugs to the US at low prices. KoreaBIO announced on the 7th that it had officially submitted a statement regarding the “National Security Investigation of Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Ingredient Imports” to the U.S. government on the 6th (U.S. local time). The U.S. Department of Commerce launched an investigation on the 1st of last month to assess the impact of pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient imports on national security. As part of this effort, the department solicited public comments from stakeholders in various countries from the 16th of last month to the 7th of this month. In its statement, the KoreaBIO emphasized that “Korea is a reliable partner in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain and an affordable partner capable of supplying high-cost prescription drugs at lower prices.” KoreaBIO cited the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), an advisory body to the U.S. Congress, in expressing concerns over the imposition of tariffs on pharmaceuticals. The NSCEB previously stated that “the United States must develop innovative biotechnology and cooperate with its allies to stabilize the supply chain for the sake of national security.” KoreaBIO explained, “Korea plays a crucial role as a partner producing pharmaceuticals needed by the U.S.,” adding, “Especially, Korea is gradually expanding cooperation with U.S. companies for the contract manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.” KoreaBIO warned that “It takes at least several years to develop a stable pharmaceutical supply chain in the United States,” and that “imposing tariffs before the supply chain is established in the United States could lead to drug supply shortages for American patients, ultimately having a negative impact on U.S. national security.” KoreaBIO emphasized, “Korea is making a significant contribution to the Trump administration's efforts to expand access to affordable medicines through active development and supply of biosimilars. Korea plays a crucial role in supplying the medicines and pharmaceutical raw materials needed by U.S. patients stably and cost-effectively.” Finally, KoreaBIO reiterated, “We request that the U.S. government refrain from imposing trade restrictions such as tariffs on pharmaceuticals. If such measures are unavoidable, we request that pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials produced in allied countries such as South Korea, which do not pose a threat to U.S. national security, be exempted.” The U.S. government's decision on whether to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals remains undecided, despite the announcement of a “separate application” policy on May 2. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on a wide range of products worldwide. Specifically, tariffs of 25% would be imposed on aluminum, steel, and automobiles, while a basic tariff of 10% would apply to all other products. However, all measures other than tariffs on China have been postponed. Pharmaceuticals have been temporarily excluded from the 10% basic tariff. The White House explained on the 2nd of last month that “President Trump is considering separate industry-specific tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and key minerals.” The MOHW also submitted a statement with a similar message on the 4th (local time). The MOHW emphasized that “imports of Korean pharmaceuticals do not pose a threat to US national security and rather contribute to supply chain stability and improving patient access, so tariffs are unnecessary.” The MOHW emphasized that “the trade of pharmaceuticals between South Korea and the US is a strategic cooperation based on mutual trust and has contributed to the strong alliance between the two countries,” adding, “Despite the difference in the size of the pharmaceutical industries and medical markets of the two countries, the US is a major importer of pharmaceuticals in South Korea, which demonstrates the close economic and health cooperation forged between the two countries.” The MOHW explained, “Practical cooperation is important for stabilizing the drug supply chain in the US and reducing the burden on patients. Korean CDMO companies can support US pharmaceutical companies' dual sourcing and contribute to supply chain stability and reducing the burden of drug prices on patients. The joint response of the two countries during the pandemic demonstrates how such cooperation is directly linked to national security.” The MOHW said, “We look forward to maximizing mutual benefits through future cooperation based on mutual trust,” and proposed, “We will strengthen cooperation between the two countries to enhance access to essential medicines and promote innovation, and maximize mutual benefits by establishing a supply chain based on mutual trust.”
- Company
- FDA approves Huons' two Lidocaine Inj products
- by Lee, Seok-Jun May 08, 2025 06:08am
- Huons has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for two of its lidocaine local anesthetic products, marking its expansion into the North American market. On the 7th, Huons (CEO Soo-young Song) announced that it has obtained FDA approval for its “1% Lidocaine 200 mg/20 mL” and “(2% Lidocaine 400 mg/20 mL multi-dose vial” on the 5th (US local time). The multi-dose vial products that were granted marketing authorizations this time are formulations that add a preservative to the previously approved lidocaine injection to enable multiple uses after opening. Huons submitted the application in January and received approval in just 4 months. Like the previously approved 1% and 2% lidocaine hydrochloride injection single-dose vials (5 mL), the new products have demonstrated bioequivalence with the reference drug, Xylocaine Injection. This FDA approval marks Huons’ sixth and seventh products to enter the U.S. market. Previously, Huons received 5 FDA approvals: △sodium chloride injection (July 2017) △1% lidocaine hydrochloride injection 5mL ampoule (April 2018) △0. 75% bupivacaine hydrochloride injection 2mL ampoule (December 2019), △1% lidocaine hydrochloride injection 5mL vial (May 2020), and △2% lidocaine hydrochloride injection 5mL vial (June 2023). The 0.75% bupivacaine hydrochloride injection and 2 other products have already been approved by Health Canada and are currently being exported to Canada. Huons plans to focus on expanding exports to the North American market through the recent approval. The North American local anesthetic market is estimated to be worth KRW 500 billion. In particular, the company plans to begin full-scale operation of its new injection line at its Cheongju Plant 2 in the second half of this year to expand sales. Soo-young Song, CEO of Huons, stated, “The two lidocaine injection products approved by the U.S. FDA hold significance as they are highly versatile multi-use vials. With this approval, we plan to work to further solidify our position in the North American market by leveraging our portfolio of high-quality local anesthetics across multiple product lines.”
- Company
- Global pharmas showcase results at ARVO 2025
- by Cha, Jihyun May 08, 2025 06:08am
- The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO 2025) began on May 4 (local time) in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. ARVO is the world's largest meeting of vision and ophthalmology researchers, attracting over 10,000 participants each year, and ARVO 2025 is being held over five days at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The exhibition hall was packed with attendees on the second day, May 5, when the main oral presentations and symposia took place. The slogan for this year's meeting is 'i3: Imagining Innovation and Intelligence in Vision Science,' and sessions focusing on convergent technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), gene therapy, and regenerative medicine have been greatly expanded. ARVO 2025 More than 200 companies and institutions, including global big pharmas, are exhibiting this year. AbbVie (USA), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Genentech (USA), and Regeneron (USA) each opened booths to showcase their latest technologies and ophthalmic pipelines. ZEISS (Germany) and Astellas (Japan) also promoted high-resolution retinal imaging systems, ocular drug delivery platforms, and patient-customized diagnostic solutions. ARVO 2025 Regeneron, a biotech with a leading global position in ophthalmic diseases, set up its promotional booth at the very center of the exhibition. At ARVO 2025, Regeneron emphasized 'Eylea (aflibercept),' its high-dose formulation for macular degeneration. Eylea HD is a new, high-volume product launched by Regeneron ahead of the original Eylea patent expiry, extending the dosing interval from every eight weeks to every 16 weeks. Regeneron is presenting 27 abstracts at ARVO 2025, eight oral presentations. In particular, Regeneron highlighted Eylea HD's market competitiveness by reporting the results of a meta-analysis, indirectly comparing it with Roche's competitor 'Vabysmo (faricimab).' ARVO 2025 Alcon displayed surgical and vision-care products for various ophthalmic conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases, and refractive errors. Precision Vision drew attention by allowing attendees to try its virtual reality (VR)–based vision testing tools firsthand. Precision Vision has over 60 years of history in vision testing and visual function assessment equipment. LUXA Biotechnology, a subsidiary of Korea's Y2 Solution, drew particular interest by presenting clinical results for its dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy. LUXA was established in 2019 through Y2 Solution's investment and a joint venture with the U.S.'s first independent stem cell research institute, NSCI. Y2 Solution currently holds a 50% stake. At this meeting, LUXA presented preclinical data for its dry AMD cell therapy candidate 'RPESC-RPE-4W.' RPESC-RPE-4W is an adult retinal pigment epithelial stem cell (RPESC)–based therapy in which mature RPE cells derived from RPESCs are transplanted into the patient's subretinal space to restore damaged vision. It is currently in Phase 1/2a clinical trials. ARVO 2025 The RPESC-RPE-4W preclinical session drew over 200 attendees, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The session room was packed even before the presentation began, and many attendees who could not find seats stood throughout the talk. Dr. Brigitte Arduini, who presented the preclinical data, said, "In animal models receiving subretinal transplants, RPESC-RPE-4W demonstrated stable cell engraftment without serious adverse reactions or tumor formation," and added, "The transplanted cells positively influenced photoreceptor preservation and retinal structure maintenance, showing potential for functional vision improvement." Dr. Arduini added, "RPESC-RPE-4W showed minimal immune rejection post-transplant, suggesting high immunocompatibility consistent with adult-derived cell characteristics. These preclinical results will provide critical evidence for future clinical studies and open up new possibilities for treating dry AMD."
- Company
- Supreme Court rules in favor of Pharmbio’s Elpag Tab
- by Nho, Byung Chul May 07, 2025 06:02am
- On the 30th, Pharmbio Korea announced that it had won the final appeal in the patent dispute with Novartis, the patent holder of the original drug Revolade (eltrombopag olamine), for its immune thrombocytopenia treatment Elpag (eltrombopag olamine). Pharmbio Korea filed a request for a judgment on the scope of rights for 3 formulation patents in July 2023 and secured two consecutive victories in April 2024 (Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board) and December 2024 (Patent Court). The Supreme Court's ruling also upheld Pharmbio Korea's final victory. Pharmbio Korea has already obtained marketing authorization for the orphan drug Elpag and released it on October 1, 2024, with a reimbursement price of KRW 22,849 for Elpag 25 mg, KRW 22,849 for Elpag 25mg, and KRW 44,405 for Elpag 50mg, which is 30% lower than the price of the original product, significantly reducing the medical expenses for patients. Elpag is the first generic drug developed for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia and severe aplastic anemia in Korea, achieving the localization of a product that Korea had previously relied on imported medications. Bong-kil Nam, CEO of Pharmbio Korea, stated, “A homegrown treatment for immune thrombocytopenia was urgently needed for patients with rare diseases. By localizing this medication, Pharmbio Korea has been able to reduce patients' costs by 30%.”
- Company
- Roche seeks reimb for Polivy as first-line DLBLC therapy
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 07, 2025 06:02am
- Polivy, a first-line treatment for DLBCL introduced in 20 years, is seeking reimbursement listing in Korea. According to industry sources, Roche Korea recently submitted an application for reimbursement for Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), a treatment for recurrent or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Polivy originally sought reimbursement listing in 2021 for its first indication, as third-line treatment in combination with BR therapy (bendamustine and rituximab), but failed to pass the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's Cancer Disease Deliberation Committee review. Then in the first half of 2023, the company submitted an application for reimbursement for its use as first-line treatment in combination with the so-called R-CHP therapy, which includes rituximab+cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, but was again rejected by the CDDC in February last year. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether Polivy, which has failed reimbursement listing twice in Korea, will be successful in gaining reimbursement this time. There is some optimism. The company added results from a 60.9-month follow-up analysis of the POLARIX study, which evaluated the efficacy of the Pola-R-CHP combination therapy in first-line treatment for DLBCL. The study, which was presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024 Annual Meeting, was the first clinical trial in 20 years to expand the first-line standard of care for DLBCL. Key results showed that patients treated with the Polivy combination therapy demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival (OS) compared to the control group treated with the standard R-CHOP. The lymphoma-related mortality rate was 9.0% in the Polivy combination therapy group and 11.4% in the R-CHOP control group. At approximately 5 years after treatment initiation, the risk of death in the Polivy combination therapy group was reduced by 15%, an improvement over the previous 3-year follow-up results (6% reduction in risk). Also, the Polivy combination therapy group (38.7%) required subsequent treatment (radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, etc.) at a rate approximately 25% lower than the R-CHOP control group (61.7%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of blood cancer and the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In South Korea, it is estimated that approximately 5,000 new patients are diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma each year. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which accounts for the highest proportion of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is an aggressive type of lymphoma that requires immediate treatment due to its rapid progression. While over half of patients achieve remission with good treatment response rates, 30–40% do not respond to standard therapy (R-CHOP) or experience recurrence after initial treatment. Despite the fact that most patients experience relapse within 2 years and have a survival period of only 6 months upon relapse, relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma remains an area with limited effective treatment options.
- Policy
- Drug-switching to AZ Ultomiris increases with aHUS reimb
- by Lee, Tak-Sun May 07, 2025 06:02am
- Product photo of Soliris and Ultomiris Drug switching for atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) has become common practice. As 'Ultomiris (ravulizumab)' becomes reimbursed as of January in addition to previously reimbursed 'Soliris (eculizumab),' patients on Soliris are switching to Ultomiris. Two drugs are pre-reviewed medications distributed by AstraZeneca. According to industry sources on the 30th, the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)'s Medical Practice Assessment Division has recently disclosed that the number of pre-reviewed cases between February and March was 15. Ten of these cases were submitted by Ultomiris for pre-review assessment. Nine of the ten Ultomiris cases were approved, while one was not. Two Soliris cases are related to the termination of administration. Two were approved, while one was not. aHUS is a rare disease in which chronically uncontrolled complement activity leads to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), causing persistent damage by thrombosis and inflammation to the small blood vessels throughout the body. It is known that approximately 79% of patients die or require dialysis within three years of onset and suffer permanent renal damage. The only treatment, Soliris, has been reimbursed by national health insurance since July 2018. However, because it is an expensive drug, reimbursement decisions are made through pre-review authorization as part of benefit management. The problem is that the approval rate for pre-review authorization is as low as 30–40%, prompting calls to either ease the pre-review authorization requirements or switch to follow-up review to improve patient access. Meanwhile, Ultomiris, an upgraded alternative to Soliris, has been reimbursed for aHUS since January of this year. Ultomiris is a next-generation C5 complement inhibitor with a half-life approximately four times longer than Soliris. In contrast, Soliris must be administered every two weeks, while Ultomiris extends the dosing interval to eight weeks, thereby improving convenience. As administration convenience has dramatically improved, patients on Soliris are now switching to Ultomiris. All ten cases disclosed were drug-switching administrations. In nine approved cases, Soliris had been administered in three cases in 2024, two cases in 2023, two cases in 2022, one case in 2021, and one case in 2018, and applications for coverage as Ultomiris drug-switching met the criteria and were approved. In a case where Soliris was not approved in 2022, the review committee concluded that treatment discontinuation was necessary due to symptom improvement, leading to non-approval. Drug-switching from Soliris to Ultomiris is expected to increase further. When setting the reimbursement criteria for Ultomiris, the Ministry of Health and Welfare also clarified the criteria for drug-switching. It specified that patients currently on Soliris who switch to Ultomiris must meet the maintenance criteria under the Ultomiris coverage guidelines and not meet any discontinuation criteria. MOHW also announced that the starting point for monitoring treatment efficacy and calculating the treatment period would be when Soliris was administered. However, whether reimbursing Ultomiris will raise the pre-review authorization approval rate for aHUS patients is still uncertain. This is because non-approval cases continue to occur among new patients. An industry professional said, "Since last November, pre-review authorizations for Soliris and Ultomiris in PNH have been converted to standard reviews, but for patient care, pre-review authorization should also be abolished for aHUS."
- Policy
- Increasing requests for BESREMi reimbursement
- by Whang, byung-woo May 07, 2025 06:02am
- Whether the polycythemia vera (PV) treatment BESREMi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) will be considered for the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) review gains attention. Product photo of BESREMiAccording to the pharmaceutical industry sources, the 5th DREC of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) is scheduled to convene on the 8th. BESREMi is a next-generation interferon that targets the JAK2 mutation gene, which causes polycythemia vera. It was developed with improved purity and tolerability over existing interferons so that it can be administered every two weeks for the first 1.5 years and then every four weeks thereafter. However, despite having its reimbursement criteria set by the Cancer Drug Reimbursement Committee in March of last year, BESREMi has not yet been submitted to the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) even after 14 months, and it remains unclear whether it will be on the agenda for the upcoming 5th committee meeting. On May 2, the Korea Leukemia Patients Association called for a discussion of BESREMi's reimbursement to provide a treatment option for polycythemia vera patients with no alternatives. The Association explained, "The only treatment currently reimbursed by national health insurance is hydroxyurea. However, approximately 10–20% of all patients are either refractory or cannot continue to take the drug due to side effects. For these patients, BESREMi is virtually the only treatment alternative." As of 2023, there are 4,995 polycythemia vera patients in South Korea, who are classified into low- and high-risk groups. Professor Seong-Yun Lee of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Ilsan Paik Hospital remarked, "Although polycythemia vera may seem small in patient pool as a rare haematologic malignancy, the patient population continues to grow. Over time, low-risk patients transition to the high-risk category, increasing the likelihood of resistance or intolerance, so the scale should not be underestimated." Notably, during the parliamentary petition in February last year to urge BESREMi's reimbursement, the initiative collected 50,552 signatures in just 30 days, demonstrating broad social consensus on the need for treatment, and the Association insists that the system and administration must respond swiftly. The Association stated, "The fact that BESREMi has not been submitted to the DREC even 14 months after the Cancer Drug Reimbursement Committee's decision reflects that the government and the pharmaceutical company are ignoring the desperate reality of patients without treatment options," and demanded, "BESREMi must be placed on the committee's agenda, approved, and quick price negotiations must follow." Nevertheless, there is reason to hope that BESREMi will be on the 5th DREC's agenda, as the HIRA's Economic Evaluation Committee has already confirmed its cost-effectiveness. The next steps will proceed based on whether the company accepts the government's proposal, and industry sources say that PharmaEssentia Korea, which has BESREMi, has agreed to the proposal after persuading its global headquarters. Although further discussions remain, some predict that BESREMi's bid for reimbursement will advance rapidly now that some compromises have been reached. The key will be the specific price-setting since, with global interferon shortages continuing and more cases of BESREMi adoption emerging, the price set in Korea may serve as a reference. It is also anticipated that PharmaEssentia Korea may propose a risk-sharing agreement (RSA) during negotiations, meaning that even after DREC approval, negotiations with the HIRA on pricing will remain a challenge for the company. Professor Lee said, "It would be ideal for all patients to receive treatment without financial burden, but considering the limits of national health insurance finances, priority reimbursement for patients who are resistant or intolerant to hydroxyurea is urgently needed. These patients have no other treatment options if they cannot be treated with hydroxyurea."
- Company
- Reimb for Pfizer Korea’s Lorviqua extended to first-line
- by Whang, byung-woo May 07, 2025 06:02am
- Pic of Lorviqua Pfizer Korea announced that Lorviqua (lorlatinib) will be reimbursed by health insurance for the first-line treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) starting May 1. Lorviqua is a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to be effective against ALK mutations that were designed to easily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In May 2022, it was granted reimbursement as a first-line treatment, 3 years after the indication was expanded to include ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer as a first-line treatment. Patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer account for over 80% of all lung cancer cases and are characterized by relatively young age and a history of minimal or no smoking. Professor Sang Wee Kim, Professor of Oncology at Asan Medical Center, said, “It is important to treat ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with effective drugs based on accumulated clinical results from the early stages due to its characteristics. The reimbursement of Lorviqua is welcome news for patients who have not been able to receive proper treatment due to reimbursement restrictions, and there are high expectations in the medical field.” According to the 5-year follow-up results of the global Phase III CROWN clinical trial, Lorviqua demonstrated an 81% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to the crizotinib group in patients with no prior treatment experience. Additionally, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for Lorviqua was not reached at 60.2 months of follow-up, regardless of brain metastasis status, while the median PFS for crizotinib was 9.1 months at 55.1 months of follow-up. According to an analysis of the CROWN 5-year results, this is the longest progression-free survival rate achieved among ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer treatments to date. The safety profile of Lorviqua was consistent with the primary analysis, and no new safety signals were identified at the 5-year mark. Efficacy and safety were also consistently maintained in studies involving Asian patients. “Due to the nature of ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, there is a high unmet need among patients whose quality of life may be reduced due to brain metastases. It is meaningful that the reimbursement of Lorviqua as a first-line treatment will improve access to treatment for patients in Korea,” said Jin-Jeong Oh, Marketing Lead of the Oncology Business Unit at Pfizer Korea. Oh added, “Pfizer Korea will continue to strive to create significant changes in patients' lives and improve the treatment environment through various innovative therapies.”
