- LOGIN
- MemberShip
- 2026-05-04 03:19:45
- Policy
- Gov't declines preferential pricing for innovative drugs
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Nov 21, 2022 05:56am
- Complaints are rising in various areas of the pharmaceutical industry with the Ministry of Health and Welfare maintaining its position that preferential pricing for new drugs manufactured by Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies cannot be introduced in practicality due to issues including trade conflict, NHI finances, etc. The industry is complaining that the Ministry of Health and Welfare taking too much of a protective stance rather than focusing on preparing preferential pricing measures based on the fact that not only domestic pharmaceutical companies but US and UK companies are accredited as Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies. On the 20th, MOHW reiterated its position that authorities must play caution in providing preferential pricing measures for Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies and drugs that use domestically manufactured APIs, etc, virtually reaffirming its plan on the non-introduction of such policies. Although a clause for providing preferential pricing to Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies had been prepared as of December 11th, 2018 under the Special Act On Fostering and Support of Pharmaceutical Industry, the government had also expressed practical difficulties in its implementation as providing pricing support for specific pharmaceutical companies, despite its legal basis, can lead to trade conflict. Regarding the enactment of subordinate statutes, the MOHW said it agrees with their necessity, but would need to consider whether it conforms to the international trade order. The ‘Premium drug pricing system for global innovative new drugs,’ which had been announced on July 7th, 2016 to provide preferential treatment for drugs developed by such companies, had been deleted in December 2018 as a discriminatory factor as a result of negotiations on amendments and modifications of the US-Korea (KORUS FTA). However, the domestic pharmaceutical industry stressed the need to promptly introduce a preferential pricing policy for innovative new drugs based on the fact that the criteria for accrediting innovative pharmaceutical companies are not limited to domestic companies. Also, the demand for preferential pricing of innovative new drugs by domestic pharmaceutical companies has been increasing further as MOHW Minister Kyu-Hong Cho stated that “further phased price cuts are deemed necessary as the price of generics are more expensive in Korea than overseas” regarding price cuts for generic drugs that are considered the basis of Korea’s pharmaceutical industry at the NA audit this year. The main reason for complaints raised by domestic pharmaceutical companies is that the Korean government is passive in preparing preferential treatment for innovative new drugs while concentrating on reducing the generic drug price. Also, the industry pointed out that as multinational pharmaceutical companies are also selected as Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies in addition to domestic pharmaceutical companies, the policy should not be considered as being favorable for domestic pharmaceutical companies. Three multinational pharmaceutical companies – AstraZeneca Korea, Janssen Korea, and Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical - have been accredited as Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies. In other words, if the MOHW continues to solely pursue the plan to lower generic drug prices without specific preferential treatment or preservation measures, the concern of domestic pharmaceutical companies is likely to continue to deepen. A domestic pharmaceutical company official pointed out, “In every NA audit, the government had repeatedly promised policies to support drive new drug development, but no mechanism for preferential treatment for new drugs has been established as of now. The MOHW seems to have no plans to provide preferential treatment for drug prices and only have plans to lower generic drug prices." The official said, “If preferential pricing for Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies may cause a trade dispute, the government should also separately contemplate measures to resolve the issue as well. Foreign pharmaceutical companies are also accredited as Korea Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies in addition to Korean companies.” Another official from a different pharmaceutical company in Korea also said, “The answer that the government would provide preferential treatment for new drugs after reviewing the international trade order and its financial impact on health insurance finances seems to mean that it will provide no preferential treatment. If this measure cannot be implemented, other measures to provide measures to preserve the drug price. The government has always been opposed to the request to preserve drug prices as well.” The official added, “If the government only formalizes the price cut of generic drugs and provides no response to the request for preferential treatment, reevaluation, or exceptions for the other drugs, domestic pharmaceutical companies will inevitably become more dissatisfied. The current response that no preservation or preferential treatment can be provided to domestic drugs because of NHI finances is quite irresponsible.” Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee have also been demanding a drug price preservation policy every year, but it seems difficult for the NA to make further requests with the government continuing to repeat its principled answer. Following last year, members of the NA Health and Welfare Committee Rep. In-Soon Nam, Min-Seok Kim of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Rep. Jong-Seong Lee, Jong-Hean Baek, called for measures to provide preferential treatment for new drugs to foster Korea’s domestic pharmaceutical industry at this year’s NA audit.
- Policy
- Label for rosuvastatin to change following ticagrelor
- by Lee, Hye-Kyung Nov 21, 2022 05:56am
- The drug-drug interaction label for rosuvastatin drugs that are used to treat hyperlipidemia including AstraZeneca’s ‘Crestor’ will be changed. The drugs that affect rosuvastatin are ticagrelor drugs including AstraZeneca’s antiplatelet drug ‘Brilinta.’ The labeling change for ticagrelor has been preannounced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in August and is set to be made on December 2nd. The labeling changes for rosuvastatin in line with the changes made for ticagrelor will also be applied after collecting opinions until December 2nd. According to the planned changes that will be made, the phrase ‘Ticagrelor can cause renal insufficiency and may affect renal excretion of rosuvastatin, increasing the risk for rosuvastatin accumulation’ will be newly added in the drug-drug interaction label of both the monotherapy and combination therapies of rosuvastatin. In some cases, co-administered ticagrelor and rosuvastatin led to a renal function decrease, increased CPK level, and rhabdomyolysis. Therefore, renal function and CPK control are recommended while using ticagrelor and rosuvastatin concomitantly. The MFDS prepared the label change based on European Medicines Agency’s safety review results on rosuvastatin. Items approved in Korea that contain rosuvastatin include 974 items including Crestor, Kuhnil Biopharm’s ‘Rosucande Tab,’ Kims Pharmaceutical’s ‘Rosuvac Tab,’ Ahngook New Pharm’s ‘Newsuvatin Tab,’ HK Inno.N’s ‘Vivacor Tab,’ Novartis Korea’s ‘Rosuco Tab,’ and Abbott Korea’s ‘Lypsta Tab.’
- Policy
- Public policy fee for severely ill children is implemented
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Nov 21, 2022 05:56am
- The government will push for a pilot project for a new payment system for the sustainability of treatment for severely ill children and adolescents. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho Kyu-hong) announced that it will recruit participating institutions for about four weeks from today (17th) to December 15th, which will take effect in January next year. Participating institutions are Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Yonsei Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University Hospital, Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital, Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital, and Kangwon National University Hospital. The Ministry of Health and Welfare explains that this is a pilot project to prevent the collapse of medical infrastructure with groundbreaking support for severe childhood diseases, which are weakening due to a decrease in the child population. The pilot project is the first step in implementing the public policy fee presented as a national task. The government introduces a new payment system called a package follow-up method rather than an additional method for individual medical services to strengthen support for pediatric specialized care infrastructure. The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained that it aims to lay the foundation for pediatric patients and guardians to receive sufficient professional treatment even close by supporting the maintenance of essential medical infrastructure by region through pilot projects. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to operate the pilot project by adopting a new support method to operate a stable treatment system for severely ill children by region. The selected medical institution will expand essential manpower such as pediatricians and nurses to provide high-quality children's medical services and carry out key projects suitable for each center's characteristics such as short-term hospitalization and home medical services. The pilot project will be conducted for three years from January 2023 to December 2025, and the target of the application is an institution designated as a children's public medical center that wishes to participate. The participating institution will be selected by comprehensively evaluating the level of securing pediatric professionals and the quality of pediatric treatment. Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong said, "This pilot project is part of the public policy fee to strengthen the public role of health insurance," adding, "We hope that an environment will be provided for all children to grow safely and healthily."
- Policy
- The budget for Paxlovid's SE relief will be prepared
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Nov 18, 2022 06:04am
- The Welfare Committee approved a budget of 1.7 billion won. Payment can be made next year if the plenary session is passed. The budget for relieving abnormal cases and side effects of drugs being administered in Korea through the EUA system, which is not approved based on the current Pharmaceutical Act, is smoothly being secured. This is because the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee recently voted 1.79 billion won for next year's budget to relieve damage to EUA drugs such as COVID-19 treatments, and attention is focused on the results of the special committee on budget settlement. Given that the EUA drug damage relief budget is recognized by multiple lawmakers and professional committee members of the Welfare Committee, and the government is also actively encouraging the administration for COVID-19 prevention, calls for a side effect damage compensation budget are gaining momentum. As of November this year, a total of six drugs including Paxlovid, Remdesivir, Actemra, Lagevrio, Evusheld, and Comirnaty 2 are being administered in Korea as EUA drugs by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. There is no way to relieve the damage even if serious side effects such as abnormal reactions, deaths, and diseases are developed in patients who have taken six drugs approved for emergency use. This is because the drug and vaccine damage relief system is operated only for drugs and vaccines that are officially approved based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. Choi Hye-young of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Mi-ae of the People's Power, who are members of the Welfare Committee, have proposed a bill to relieve the state from side effects caused by EUA drugs. Prior to the legislation, the Welfare Committee voted to increase the budget of 1.79 billion won to compensate for damages to EUA drugs during next year's budget review. If the budget bill passes through the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and passes the plenary session, it will be able to compensate for side effects caused by the administration of EUA drugs such as Paxlovid from next year. Currently, the quarantine authorities are actively encouraging the use of EUA drugs such as oral COVID-19 treatments to prevent and treat severe COVID-19 and death, so there is a high expectation that the budget for damage relief will also pass the committee. There have been cases in which applications for relief from abnormal cases that occurred after taking Paxlovid have been received, and compensation for the cases will be possible only when the budget for next year is prepared. The Welfare Committee voted 271 million won, the same as this year, for the budget for the "relief from side effects of drugs" project.
- Policy
- Quick diagnosis is essential for Hepatitis C
- by Nov 18, 2022 06:03am
- Pharmaceutical companies such as BMS, Gilead, and Abbvie introduced direct anti-virus (DAA) treatments, and hepatitis C opened the era of complete recovery. Re-treatment options for a small number of patients who failed to treat also appeared this year. The goal of hepatitis C is to find "hidden patients" who have not yet been diagnosed. Experts stress that national checkups should include hepatitis C. Bruce Kreter, general manager of Global Medical, who was in charge of the development of hepatitis C treatment at Gilead, and Ahn Sang-hoon, a professor of gastroenterology at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, asked about the current status of hepatitis C screening at home and abroad. ◆ Government-led hepatitis C screening test vs. repeated discussions for years The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the fight against hepatitis C by 2030 and urged international efforts. As the treatment is completed, it can be managed by simply finding hepatitis C carriers. The domestic prevalence rate is estimated to be around 1%, and it is considered an important strategy to quickly find and treat patients who can be the source of infection because there is no separate vaccine. Unlike the United States, which conducted a government-led hepatitis C screening test under the WHO's declaration, Korea has been only discussing whether to include hepatitis C tests in national checkups for years. The paradigm of hepatitis C treatment completely changed after the introduction of DAA preparations. With a treatment success rate of nearly 100%, complete recovery can be expected, treatment can be performed regardless of genotype, and the treatment period, which was up to one year, has been greatly reduced to two to three months. Even this year, a re-treatment system has been created that can be used by a small number of patients who have failed to treat due to resistance. The success rate of re-treatment is also close to 100%. It is evaluated that treatment is close to completion among the two factors for eradicating disease, "prevention" and "treatment." The problem is prevention. Hepatitis C does not have a vaccine, so a quick diagnosis is the best. Professor Ahn pointed out that it is meant to treat only patients without prevention. In particular, it is analyzed that Korea has never been tested for hepatitis C and does not even know that it is a carrier. Professor Ahn said, "More than 70% of hepatitis C patients in Korea were asymptomatic patients who did not know that they were hepatitis C, and more than 60% had never been tested for hepatitis C in their lives," and stressed, "There are more recent situations such as drugs and tattoos, so we need to quickly detect and treat the source of infection." In 2020, the United States began recommending screening tests for hepatitis C under the leadership of the CDC. This is a change to keep pace with the WHO's announced goal of eradicating hepatitis C. The United States recommends that all adults undergo at least one hepatitis C screening test. Countries with national examination programs such as Taiwan, Japan, and Egypt included hepatitis C tests in the category. " Hepatitis C is asymptomatic and the patient cannot be recognized as a carrier unless diagnosed through a test. However, these patients may have been in poor condition for a long time, but they feel that their quality of life is improved through treatment. At the national level, medical costs can be lowered by lowering the probability of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma when hepatitis C is completely cured, he explained. In Korea, discussions have also been made since late 2015 to include hepatitis C tests in the national health examination category, but no conclusion has been reached even seven years later. It is not that the utility value that can be included in national projects has not been proven. Although the Korean Association for the study of the Liver has consistently proven cost-effectiveness through feasibility studies and pilot projects, there is still no progress. The Korean Association for the study of the Liver is conducting additional research to analyze the government's financial impact assessment. Professor Ahn said, "The Korean Association for the study of the Liver confirmed the cost-effectiveness of national hepatitis C screening through an early detection pilot project for hepatitis C for 105,000 people aged 55 in 2020. "When comparing the costs of treatment with screening tests and neglecting liver cirrhosis, it was much more effective to conduct screening tests for high-risk groups," he explained. He said, "In addition, research to verify whether the government's financial consumption of national checkups is possible through the government's fiscal impact assessment will be announced within this year as it is almost the final stage."
- Policy
- Budget increase for drugs and vaccines under NA review
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Nov 17, 2022 05:54am
- The proposal to set a new budget worth KRW 14.4 billion to support the patients’ medical expenses of ultra-high-priced new drugs for rare diseases will be reviewed by the Adjustment Subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. A plan to increase the budget for the K-global vaccine fund project by KRW 40 billion or KRW 20 billion from the KRW 10 billion that was originally submitted by the government, will also be discussed at the Adjustment Subcommittee of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. The Adjustment Subcommittee of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts will be reviewing the agendas above on the 16th. The budget to support the medical expense for non-reimbursed new orphan drugs is a new budget that had not been reflected in both the government’s original proposal or the resolution bill of NA’s Health and Welfare Committee The agenda became subject to review after Rep. Cheol-Gyu Lee and Dong-Hyuk Jang, Hee-Young of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts raised the need for a new budget. The plan is to increase the budget by KRW 14.4 billion to support medical expenses for non-reimbursed drugs before they are applied insurance coverage. If the budget plan is reflected, rare disease patients that use ultra-high-priced drugs that are yet to be reimbursed may receive benefits. Also, for the ‘K-Global Vaccine Fund Project’ that had been passed by the NA Health and Welfare Committee, two budget increase proposals – one to increase the budget by KRW 40 billion requested by Rep. Hyun-Young Shin and Hye-Young Choi, and the other to increase the budget by KRW 20 billion requested by Rep. Dae-Sik Kang, Sun-Woo Kang, Jin-Gyo Bae, Hyun-Jin Bae, Jung-Sook Suh, Yong-Ho Lee, Hye-Sook Jun, Su-Jin Cho will be reviewed by the special subcommittee. In other words, plans to increase the budget for the fund to support the development of local homegrown vaccines and new drugs to KRW 50 billion and KRW 30 billion are set to be reviewed side by side. The pharmaceutical and bio-industry is of the opinion that it is necessary to secure as much government budget as possible to actively support companies that develop homegrown vaccines and new drugs who are preparing to conduct Phase II or III trials. All the plans are for budget increases, and the subcommittee review of the agendas is scheduled for next week.
- Policy
- Use of Evusheld extended to the severely immunocompromised
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Nov 16, 2022 06:10am
- The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Head: KDCA Commissioner Kyung-Ran Baek) announced that it had expanded the eligibility of Evusheld as of the 14th to protect the severely immunocompromised from the next wave of COVID-19 outbreak that may arise in the winter season. With the expansion, blood cancer patients, transplant recipients, and people with congenital immunodeficiency who are severely immunocompromised; those with solid cancer, HIV, or rheumatism following deliberation by the Infectious Disease Control Committee; and patients who are receiving serious immunosuppressive treatment such as chemotherapy or B-cell depletion treatment regardless of disease are eligible for Evusheld. Also, the treatment period for patients to apply for the treatment has been extended from the previous 2-4 months to 6-12 months. The dose, which had previously been 300mg, was also increased to 600mg based on MFDS’ Emergency Use Authorization which allows ‘patents to recieve 600mg in the event variants arise,’ cases in the US where the authorities granted increasing the dosage to 600mg to respond to the Omicron variant, and committee deliberation, etc. Those who already received the 300 mg dose within 3 months may receive an additional dose of 300mg, and those who received Evusheld over 3 months ago may receive an additional dose of 600mg. The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team said, “As we have expanded the target and increased the administered dose of Evusheld in preparation for the next wave of COVID-19 that may arise in the winter season, we ask the severely immunocompromised that receive serious immunosuppressive treatments to receive Evusheld for further protection. Healthcare professionals at medical institutions that administer Evusheld should actively explain the changes to eligible patients and encourage prompt administration and apply for Evusheld.”
- Policy
- Negotiations on Strepto, concluded in the early 20% range
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Nov 15, 2022 05:39am
- Major pharmaceutical companies of the anti-inflammatory enzyme Streptokinase and Streptodornase have reportedly reached an agreement with the NHIS in redemption negotiations. The recovery rate, which has been an issue, is said to be in the early 20% range. It is interpreted as the result of the two sides' concessions to each other. According to the industry, major pharmaceutical companies such as the NHIS, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, and SK Chemicals, which held negotiations for the return with a deadline of the 14th, succeeded in reaching an agreement on the last day. Hanmi Pharmaceutical and SK Chemicals are ranked first and second in sales in related markets and are currently leading clinical re-evaluations. The recovery rate agreed by the two sides is said to be in the early 20% range, which is higher than that of the Choline alfoscerate sanctions that previously negotiated the recovery. Until now, pharmaceutical companies have stuck to less than 20% and the NHIS has stuck to more than 20%. The shorter recovery period than the Choline alfoscerate formulation seems to have affected it. As negotiations with major pharmaceutical companies have been concluded, the results of the negotiations are expected to be reported to the Committee this month without renegotiation. There are many opinions within the government that there is an extension of the negotiations on the premise of a settlement this month, but there is no renegotiation. The HIRA conducted sanctions evaluations on Streptokinase and Streptodornase and concluded that the evaluation would be suspended for one year only for items agreed to be recovered negotiations based on the results of clinical re-evaluation. In order to avoid the deletion of benefits, pharmaceutical companies had to agree on redemption negotiations with the NHIS. It is interpreted that the negotiations have been concluded without taking time, given that the final clinical re-evaluation results will be released next year. The analysis also reflected that class action lawsuits, such as choline alfoscerate pharmaceutical companies, will not have much profit. This is because the annual prescription is only 20 billion won, and when the clinical re-evaluation result report is released next year, the salary status will be sorted out. Major pharmaceutical companies have reached an agreement this time, but some consignment production pharmaceutical companies are said to have decided to accept the deletion of benefits without any intention of negotiation. A total of 37 pharmaceutical companies are subject to negotiation, and it is not known exactly how many companies agreed.
- Policy
- The vaccine fund will be increased by ₩40 billion
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Nov 14, 2022 06:07am
- Expectations in the pharmaceutical industry are soaring as the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee decided to increase next year's budget for the "K-Global Vaccine Fund" to 50 billion won, up 40 billion won from the government's plan. As the Ministry of Health and Welfare is constantly sending signals to the pharmaceutical community to focus on developing domestic vaccines and new drugs based on Korean bio funds, attention is being paid to whether the budget approved by the Welfare Committee will pass the plenary session. Looking at the Ministry of Health and Welfare's budget plan for next year, which was recently approved by the Welfare Committee, the budget for supporting the development of the pharmaceutical industry increased sharply from 44.07 billion won to 11.128 billion won. Among them, the largest increase in budget is the "K-Global Vaccine Fund" project. The government had set aside 10 billion won, a reduction of 40 billion won from this year's budget, as a global vaccine fund budget. During the screening process, the 10 billion won budget was too small, which could dampen private investment, followed by demands from welfare committee members for an increase. The move is aimed at providing aggressive R&D investment support for pipelines that are likely to succeed among vaccine and new drug candidates preparing for domestic and foreign clinical trials for the purpose of final marketing approval and market launch. The Welfare Committee adopted a 50 billion won bill among the plans to increase the fund budget by 20 billion won from 10 billion won to 30 billion won and increase it by 40 billion won to 50 billion won. The remaining gateway is the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. If the plenary session is passed without reduction adjustment in the special committee on the budget and settlement, the vaccine fund budget, which is increased by 40 billion won compared to the government's plan, is expected to be operated from next year. The domestic pharmaceutical industry is voicing its voice that the National Assembly and budget authorities should agree to a review without reduction in order to increase the possibility of developing native vaccines and new drugs. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance urged the government to avoid tightening its fiscal stance in the vaccine fund sector to achieve the goal of fostering the domestic pharmaceutical bio industry. An official from A Pharmaceutical Company in Korea said, "Unlike expected, the Welfare Committee voted to increase the amount by 40 billion won. "It is encouraging that they seem to agree on the need to foster the pharmaceutical bio-industry and develop blockbuster domestic vaccines and new drugs," he said. "The resolution to increase the amount is the same as this year's budget, and support for vaccines and new drugs, which may be possible only when the budget is passed as it is, will be able to become a reality," he expected. An official from A said, "I understand that the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the welfare committee members are greatly aware of the importance of the vaccine fund budget. He said, "I think I felt the need for a native vaccine starting from COVID-19," adding, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is a financial authority, should sympathize with this urgency and work hard to pass the budget without reduction." An official from company B in Korea also said, "The increase has been decided, but this game is from now on when the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts begins." He said there are concerns that the reduction will be inevitable as the government is tightening its fiscal stance. "However, the government's vision to grow the pharmaceutical bio-industry as a new engine is a goal it has put forward every year." "It is time to realize our will in this budget review," he said. "The vaccine fund business is in the form of receiving private investment compared to government investment. If government investment increases, private investment will be able to be activated in proportion, he said. "The National Assembly and the Ministry of Economy and Finance should recognize that pharmaceutical companies equipped with clinical trials at home and abroad are waiting for R&D support."
- Policy
- Some companies give up negotiations to recover Strepto
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Nov 11, 2022 05:51am
- Some pharmaceutical companies with the anti-inflammatory enzyme Streptokinase-streptodornase have conveyed to the NHIS that they are not willing to negotiate. Currently, about five of the 37 pharmaceutical companies subject to negotiation are known to have given up negotiations. However, as the end of the negotiations approaches, more pharmaceutical companies are likely to give up negotiations. According to the industry on the 9th, some pharmaceutical companies of Streptokinase-Streptodornase are giving up negotiations with the NHIS and accepting the deletion of benefits. Last month, the HIRA conducted a re-evaluation of the drug and decided to suspend the evaluation for one year only for items that were agreed to be recovered according to the results of the clinical re-evaluation, although there was no benefit adequacy. The clinical re-evaluation will end next year after submitting a result report. Accordingly, the NHIS is negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to recover salaries according to the results of clinical re-evaluation until the 14th. Pharmaceutical companies that have not reached an agreement in the redemption negotiations will be deleted due to a lack of benefit adequacy depending on the results of the revaluation. Some pharmaceutical companies are believed to have judged that the deletion of benefits is better. This is because if the recovery ratio is high and the clinical revaluation fails, the profit from product sales will also fall significantly. As a result, it is judged that it may be more profitable to close the business at all by deleting benefits. In the ongoing redemption negotiations, the NHIS and pharmaceutical companies are reportedly divided over the redemption rate. The NHIS sticks to more than 20% and pharmaceutical companies to less than 20%. Therefore, some predict that it will be difficult to conclude the negotiations by the deadline of the 14th of this month. Some predict that the delay in negotiations may be more disadvantageous for pharmaceutical companies as the Ministry of Health and Welfare may no longer issue a negotiation order and follow the HIRA opinion that there is no adequacy. As time goes by, there is a high possibility that more pharmaceutical companies will give up negotiations and accept the deletion of benefits. An industry official explained, "If a pharmaceutical company is disadvantaged in the negotiation for a refund, there is a high possibility that the pharmaceutical company with a small sales volume of the drug will choose to give up its business at all." The annual market size of Streptokinase-Streptodornase is about 35 billion won, which is not large. Among them, Hanmi Pharmaceutical's Mucorase and SK Chemicals' Varidase are said to be leading the way, so these pharmaceutical companies are also leading the clinical re-evaluation and negotiations for recovery.
