Breast cancer therapy Ibrance likely to get insurance benefit

Pfizer’s breast cancer therapy Palbociclib, better known as Ibrance, is likely to receive insurance coverage.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Committee of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)_{건강보험심사평가원} Thursday concluded the Ibrance Cap is appropriate to receive insurance benefits.

If Palbociclib passes a drug price negotiation between the pharmaceutical company and National Health Insurance Service(NHIS)_{국민건강보험공단}, it can get insurance coverage when people take the drug with Letrozole (a product name: Femara Tab.) as the first endocrine therapy.

Before announcing the result of the assessment, a group of breast cancer patients has called for the government and Pfizer to provide insurance benefits for Palbociclib.

The committee also made a similar judgment for melanoma treatment Mekinist Tab. made by Novartis when taken together with Dabrafenib (a product name: Tafinlar Cap).

Meanwhile, lung cancer therapy made by Roche Korea_한국로슈, Alecensa (compound: alectinib), diabetics therapy made by Novo Nordisk Pharma_{노보노디스크}, Victoza Pen Inj, and hepatitis B treatment made by Ildong Pharmaceutical_일동제약, Besivo Tab., received conditional insurance coverage.

The committee evaluated six substances submitted by five pharmaceutical companies.