Takeda's Firazyr reimbursable up to four doses per Rx

A treatment for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE)…reimbursement scope has been expanded from two doses

Various patient conditions, varying frequencies and severities of swelling, have been reflected

Product photo of Firazyr

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Korea announced on December 19 that the National Health Insurance reimbursement coverage for Firazyr (ingredient: icatibant acetate), a treatment for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE), has been expanded to up to four doses per prescription starting this December.

 

According to partial revisions to the 'Coverage and Scope of Benefits (Pharmaceuticals),' as notified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), reimbursement coverage for Firazyr has been expanded from two to up to four doses per prescription.

 

According to the revised criteria, patients with a history of at least three self-administrations who, in the past three months, have experienced ▲Either one or more acute attacks per month or ▲Required additional doses for an acute attack, are now eligible for reimbursement for up to four doses per prescription.

 

Firazyr was approved in South Korea in June 2014 and has been reimbursed for adult patients since September 2018.

 

In July 2019, the eligible age group was expanded to include pediatric patients aged two years and older, establishing a basis for quick response during emergencies across various age groups.

 

Since March 2021, reimbursement for up to two doses per prescription has been implemented, allowing patients to better prepare for additional acute attacks.

 

This recent reimbursement expansion reflects the need to address the limitations of previous reimbursement of up to two doses per prescription and improve treatment accessibility for HAE patients in Korea, considering the unpredictable onset and severity of acute swelling episodes.

 

HAE patients often hesitated to use medication during initial acute swelling symptoms due to concerns about depleting their remaining treatment supply, resulting in repeated delays in addressing acute episodes.

 

This status conflicted with international treatment guidelines, which recommend 'prompt treatment at the onset of acute swelling symptoms.' Both patients and healthcare professionals have consistently emphasized the need for improvements in the timeliness and safety of HAE disease management.

 

In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service reviewed textbooks, clinical guidelines, and expert opinions comprehensively and decided to expand reimbursement for Firazyr to cover up to four doses per prescription for patients experiencing frequent acute swelling episodes or requiring additional doses.

 

This measure has been implemented three years and nine months after the reimbursement of up to two doses per prescription.

 

Analysis suggests that it is part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Korea's effort to provide a stable treatment environment for patients with hereditary HAE and solve unmet healthcare needs.

 

"Expanded scope of reimbursement for Firazyr will strengthen treatment access to patients with HAE in South Korea.

 

It is an important improvement implementing the recommendations by the international treatment guidelines," Kim Na-kyung, Takeda Korea Rare Disease Business Unit Head, said.

 

"We are pleased to provide a stable treatment environment to patients who experience anxiety and risks associated with acute attacks due to HAE."