Alagille Syndrome Treatment "Livmaliac" Now Covered by National Health Insurance

GC Green Cross Improves Access to Pediatric Rare Disease Treatments
Reduces Risk of Liver Transplantation and Death by Approximately 70%

GC Green Cross announced on January 2 that Livmaliac (ingredient: maralixibat), a treatment for Alagille syndrome (ALGS), has been included in the national health insurance reimbursement list according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's official notice, and will now be covered by insurance.

GC Green Cross employees are celebrating the salary application of Livmaliac. GC Green Cross

With this reimbursement listing, Livmaliac has become the first treatment option in Korea for Alagille syndrome to be covered by national health insurance.

Livmaliac is an innovative therapy that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of bile acids in the intestine and is used to alleviate cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome. A comparative analysis between the Livmaliac clinical trial group and an external natural history cohort (GALA) showed that the Livmaliac treatment group reduced the risk of major events such as liver transplantation or death by approximately 70% compared to the control group.

Alagille syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that develops in childhood and leads to chronic liver disease, often accompanied by severe pruritus and growth impairment. When symptoms worsen, patients may have no choice but to rely on high-risk surgeries such as liver transplantation, resulting in significant caregiving, financial, and psychological burdens for both patients and caregivers. With this new insurance coverage, it is expected that disease management can begin earlier, substantially alleviating the treatment burden for both patients and caregivers.

Professor Ko Jaeseong of the Department of Pediatrics at Seoul National University Hospital explained, "Previously, when symptoms worsened, liver transplantation was often the only option. With Livmaliac, it is now possible to control serum bile acid levels, which may delay or even avoid liver transplantation in some patients. This is of great clinical significance."

Park Jinyoung, Head of the Specialty Care Division at GC Green Cross, stated, "After approval, Livmaliac was provided free of charge to Alagille syndrome patients in need of pruritus treatment through a drug support program operated by the Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center for public benefit. We will continue to expand practical treatment options that provide real help to patients and caregivers in the field of rare and intractable diseases."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.