Benlysta can be reimbursed in general hospitals

can be prescribed in 20 hospitals including SNUH and AMC

Listed in February

Benlysta, which has been covered by insurance benefits for the first time in seven years, can be reimbursed in general hospitals.

 

According to related industries, GSK's Benlysta (Belimumab) has passed the drug committee (DC) of 20 hospitals nationwide, including Aju University Hospital, Chungnam National University Hospital and Hanyang University Hospital.

 

Benlysta, prescribed for treatment of active systemic erythema lupus adult patients who are autoantibody positive, was non reimbursed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee twice in December 2015 and November 2018.

 

This is because it was difficult to prove cost-effectiveness as old drug such as Prednisolone, Hydroxychloroquine and Azathioprine are alternative drugs.

 

Benlysta is eligible for active systemic ▲Lupus 18 years of age or older, who has been treating autoantibody positive for more than 3 months with standard therapy, if both ▲SELENA-SLEDAI 10 and above ▲ Anti-dsDNA antibody positive ▲ low complement (C3 or C4) conditions.

 

Patients can be treated with 10% of their copay through special cases of calculating rare diseases.

 

The administration method according to the benefit standard is recognized for an additional 6 months if SELENA-SLEDAI is reduced by more than 4 weeks after initial administration ▲ If the evaluation results of the first 24 weeks are maintained, the use is recognized for an additional 6 months.

 

Lupus invades a variety of organs throughout his life, especially in major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and nerves, which can lead to irreversible damage and death Due to the nature of the disease, most patients are women of childbearing age, and 19% of pregnant women suffer from fetal death, loss of fetal development, low birth weight, and premature birth.