‘Leclaza will be free as first-line Tx until reimbursement'

Company announces Early Access Program at the press conference celebrating Leclaza’s approval as a first-line treatment

“Will provide Leclaza to anyone who wishes to use the drug, regardless of the amount... does not think the EAP violates fair competition”

Wook-Je Cho, CEO of Yuhan Corp announced that it will be providing its anticancer drug ‘Leclaza (lasertinib)’ for free as a first-line treatment until its reimbursement is extended to cover first-line treatment.

 

Cho announced the company’s launch of the Early Access Program (EAP) at a press conference it had held on the 10th at the Seoul Plaza Hotel to celebrate Leclaza’s approval as a first-line treatment in Korea.

 

Leclaza is Korea's 31st homegrown novel drug that was approved for the treatment of NSCLC in January 2021.

 

At the time of its approval, the drug was approved as a second-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who developed resistance after being previously treated with 1st generation or 2nd generation EGFR-TKIs.

 

Last month, the company received additional approval for Leclaza as a ‘first-line treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer.

 

Cho said, “The company will return a certain proportion of its profits to support the treatment of lung cancer.

 

We will allow free access to Leclaza (as a first-line treatment) for patients suffering from lung cancer until the drug is applied reimbursement." In other words, the company will be providing Leclaza for free as a first-line treatment to all patients that wish to use the drug in the first line until the use is covered by reimbursement.

 

Cho emphasized, “Regardless of the amount, all patients who need and want Leclaza will be able to benefit from our EAP.” Also, Cho dismissed the concerns that the EAP could violate fair competition with its competitors, saying "We feel confident because we have no alternative purpose." “Many patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC have been filing one petition after another through the National Assembly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the President's Office.

 

Many patients cannot afford to use Leclaza because the drug costs KRW 100 million a year without insurance reimbursement.

 

After the drug was approved as a first-line treatment, we decided that it was right to provide its benefit faster to more patients.” “Carrying on the spirit of our founder, Dr.Ilhan New, we will be giving back our profits to society through the EAP.

 

Regarding issues of compliance that have been voiced, we feel confident in providing EAP because we have no alternative purpose.”