Recognition of Appropriateness for Health Insurance Coverage of Two COVID-19 Therapeutics

Two COVID-19 treatments have been recognized for their appropriateness for health insurance coverage.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 29th, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service announced that at the 9th Drug Benefit Evaluation Committee meeting, two COVID-19 treatments?Gilead Sciences Korea's 'Veklury' (active ingredient Remdesivir) and Pfizer Korea's 'Paxlovid Tablets' (active ingredients Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir)?were evaluated as appropriate for insurance coverage.

Veklury, an intravenous injection, is used for hospitalized adult and pediatric COVID-19 patients, while Paxlovid, in pill form, is used for mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults at high risk of progressing to severe disease. Going forward, the final decision on coverage will be made after price negotiations with the National Health Insurance Service and review by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee.

The committee also found that the gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment 'Jacubo Tablets' (active ingredient Zastaprazan), developed by Onconic Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Jeil Pharmaceutical, is appropriate for coverage if accepted below the evaluated price. Gilead's breast cancer treatment 'Trodelvy' (active ingredient Sacituzumab Govitecan) will be reconsidered.

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