Whether Gardasil 9's supply price increase is reasonable

Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization announces 'Controversy over Raising the Price of Gardasil 9's price' Report

Gardasil 9 increased by 25% in two years

All three cervical cancer vaccines are from foreign pharmaceutical companies

In order to improve the accessibility of vaccines monopolized by foreign companies, it was suggested that reasonable pricing should be monitored and institutional support measures for self-reliance should be actively reviewed.

 

The Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization Bioeconomic Research Center said in a report titled "Controversy over domestic drug price hikes through cervical cancer vaccines" on the 13th, "Medicine prices should be reasonably priced in the drug market and should be monitored and improved if there is a competition restriction." The start is an increase in the supply of Gardasil 9, a cervical cancer vaccine for MSD.

 

MSD raised its supply price by 25% in two years.

 

Following the 15% increase in April last year, it decided to raise an additional 8.5 percent this year.

 

It will be supplied at 132,636 won (excluding VAT) from July 1st.

 

The Center for Biological Research questioned the additional increase in Gardasil 9 in MSD.

 

"The price of drugs is set according to the logic of negotiation or free market competition with health authorities, reflecting the high failure rate, long development period, market size, and competition when developing new drugs.

 

Excessive external intervention in the price of new drugs can hinder innovation.

 

The center pointed out, "However, if the market dominance of certain drugs is large and the price continues to rise, the cause should be identified." In fact, Gardasil 9 accounts for 76% of the total market in the domestic cervical cancer vaccine market.

 

There are only three types of cervical cancer vaccines: Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix.

 

All of them were developed by overseas pharmaceutical companies, and Gardasil 9, the latest of them, is dominating the market.

 

Gardasil 9 prevents nine of the HPV serotypes that cause cervical cancer.

 

The center then said, "Multinational pharmaceutical companies are emphasizing through ESG reports that they are working to expand access to medicines.

 

MSD also said it has a role and responsibility to help improve access to medicines and vaccines around the world with the aim of sustainable development, pointing out that MSD's increase in supply of Gardasil 9 does not meet the company's goals.

 

According to the MFDS, Gardasil 4 was also included in products that did not release generics even after patent rights expired among items with import performance of more than $10 million.

 

The center stressed, "As the importance of health and security increases due to COVID-19, institutional support measures that can promote self-reliance in Korea should be actively reviewed if domestic development is sluggish."