Premium pricing for 11 linagliptin products ends on the 9th

Price of Trajenta and others jointly cut to KRW 402… Price of 3 drugs that entered in March was also adjusted

As one year has passed since the entry of generic versions of the DPP-4 inhibitor diabetes treatment Trajenta (linagliptin), the price ceiling of 11 products that received pricing premiums will be adjusted on the 9th.

 

Three products that entered the market in March following the expiration of the first generic exclusivity period will also have their prices reduced.

 

According to industry sources on the 3rd, the price premiums set for the original linagliptin and 11 generic products will expire on the 9th, as 1 year has passed since the entry of its generics.

 

The original Trajenta Tab (Boehringer Ingelheim Korea), which had been adjusted to 70% of the highest price due to the entry of generics, will be reduced from KRW 525 to KRW 402.

 

Additionally, Hanmi Pharmaceutical's “Linaglo Duo Tab,” DongKoo Bio&Pharma’s “Linatop Tab 5mg,” and Daewon Pharmaceutical's “Tralitin Tab,” which received drug pricing premiums as products from innovative pharmaceutical companies, will also be adjusted from KRW 510 to KRW 402.

 

Furthermore, the following products, which met all the 3 criteria and have received the first generic exclusivity premium, will have their price ceiling reduced from KRW 447 to KRW 402: Kukje Pharma’s ‘Tradi-M Tab 5mg,' Kyung Dong Pharma’s ‘Litagin Tab,’ Sinil Pharm’s ‘Tragliptin Tab,' Huons' ‘Linadipo Tab 5mg,' Jeil Pharmaceuticals 'Linatin Tab,,' Aprogen Biologics’ 'Linahana Tab,' and Genuone Science's ‘Tra-K Tab.' The first 15 Trajenta generics were listed for reimbursement on June 9 last year after successfully challenging the original drug’s patent and the expiry of the original drug’s remaining patents.

 

At that time, 61 generic items were approved, but 15 items obtained the first generic exclusivity through successful patent challenges and initial approval applications, so the remaining items were listed for reimbursement at the time.

 

And on March 8, after the 9-month first generic exclusivity period ended, 12 companies, including Hanmi Pharmaceutical, were able to enter the market.

 

The list of products whose premium pricing has ended includes three products, including Hanmi Pharmaceutical's ‘Linaglo Tab,’ which was listed in March.

 

Due to the patent issue, the market entry of the three drugs was delayed, so the premium pricing benefit for the drugs ended after only three months.

 

Pharmaceutical companies whose premium pricing has ended are currently notifying their business partners of the price changes.

 

This is a measure to minimize confusion during billing and return processing.

 

Trajenta generics have been gradually increasing their market share upon their launch.

 

According to UBIST, the outpatient prescription sales of generic versions of Trajenta (including Trajenta Duo) reached KRW 3.1 billion in the first quarter, accounting for 13% of the total linagliptin market.

 

Starting this month, with the expiration of the pricing premiums, the original and generic versions will be priced identically, intensifying market competition.

 

It remains to be seen whether the original product, now with improved price competitiveness, will mount a counterattack against the generics.