Coverage of 19 new drug items will be reinforced this year

…worth ￦437.7 billion

13 items listed, standards for 6 items expanded (including indication extensions)… benefits 1.32 million patients

Ultra-high-priced one-shot treatment Zolgensma’s price set at ￦13.87 billion for 7 patients

[Nineteen new drugs have been newly listed on the pharmaceutical reimbursement list or expanded reimbursement standards from January to this month this year.

 

Among the drugs, 4 items were newly listed drugs, and 2 were already-listed drugs receiving reimbursement expansions.

 

An estimated 1,320,371 patients will benefit from the new drug coverage enhancement policy this year, and the amount of pharmaceutical expense is expected to be in the ￦437.76 billion range.

 

First, 19 new drugs have been newly listed on the pharmaceutical reimbursement list or expanded reimbursement standards (indication, administration standards) from January to this month this year.

 

By month, coverage expansions this year started with the new listing of Vyzulta Eye Drops and Skilarence Enteric Coated Tab and the reimbursement standard expansion of Besponsa Inj in February.

 

In March, five osteoarthritis treatments including Zospata Tab 40mg, Lutathera Inj, and Resyno-ONE Inj were newly listed, and the reimbursement standard for Keytruda Inj was extended.

 

In April, Vitrakvi Cap and Sol, Rozlytrek Cap, and the ultra-high-priced treatment Kymriah Inj.

 

were newly listed, followed by the reimbursement standard expansion of Tecentriq Inj in May.

 

Last month, the reimbursement standards for Tecentriq Inj and Kadcyla Inj has been expanded and Fexclu Tab newly listed, improving treatment accessibly for 726,658 patients.

 

The estimated cost spent by the newly increased patients is expected to be around ￦97.6 billion.

 

With the new listing of the ultra-high-priced one-shot treatment Zolgensma and other reimbursement standard expansions, access and coverage to drugs have been further widened and diversified this year.

 

Although only 7 patients are eligible to receive Zolgensma in Korea, being an ultra-high-priced drug, the estimated cost of treatment has been set at ￦13.87 billion for the 7 patients.

 

On the other hand, Sonazoid Inj is expected to cost ￦0.5 billion per year to benefit 7,000 patients in Korea.

 

Dopa check Inj will cost ￦90 million for 455 patients, Donerion Patch and Donhesive Patch will cost ￦9.2 billion to benefit 28,600 patients.

 

Xtandi Soft Cap, which had already been listed but was approved to expand reimbursement standards, will further benefit 649 patients and cost ￦11.3 billion, and Ketyruda will benefit 649 patients and cost an additional ￦10.9 billion.