Next-gen Vemlidy prescription grows solely amid COVID-19

2nd quarter prescription marks 6.6 billion won, 56% surge regardless of HPV drug market shrunk

Two-digit decrease in two originals—Viread and Baraclude

Product image of Vemlidy

The outpatient prescription sales of Gilead Science’s hepatitis B treatment Vemlidy (tenofovir) has gone up by 56 percent compared to the second quarter last year.

 

Although the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection treatment market size has shrunk amid COVID-19 pandemic, Vemlidy has performed at a satisfying level and salvaged the fall Viread took.

 

◆Vemlidy prescription volume leaps by 56 percent in a year According to pharmaceutical market research firm UBIST on Aug.

 

1, Vemlidy has made 6.6 billion won in the second quarter outpatient prescription.

 

Compared to last year’s second quarter making 4.2 billion won, the figure grew by 56 percent.

 

Vemlidy is a next generation HBV infection treatment Gilead Science has launched.

 

It is an updated version of Viread, an existing blockbuster drug treating the infection.

 

The two drugs share the same active pharmaceutical ingredient of tenofovir, but Vemlidy contains one-tenth of the substance.

 

But its efficacy is on par with the existing drug and safety is improved.

 

The novel drug was approved in May 2017.

 

The prescription of the treatment took off from November of that year when it was listed.

 

The prescription reached 7.4 billion won in 2018 and it grew up to 18.3 billion won last year, rightfully taking the title of blockbuster drug.

 

In the first half of this year, the drug was already prescribed for over 10 billion won.

 

Specifically, the prescription marked 12.5 billion won as of last June.

 

Quarterly prescription volume of Viread, Baraclude and Vemlidy in last three years (Unit: KRW 100 million) Source: UBIST

The prescription volume would rise even higher when the switch from Viread to Vemlidy, currently under discussion, is fully approved.

 

Currently, the switch procedure is significantly complex according to the healthcare reimbursement standards.

 

The coverage for the switched prescription is limited to patients developing tolerance, showing no reaction or demonstrating serious adverse reaction.

 

The applicable adverse reaction is limited to patient showing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60ml/ min/ 1.73m2 and bone density T score lower than -2.5.

 

Regardless, the medical professionals are arguing the standards are excessively tight.

 

Basically, the switch is possible when a patient’s kidney fails completely.

 

The issue was also addressed at last year’s National Assembly audit.

 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) official said, “it would be reviewed when relevant guideline or literature are published overseas.” ◆Prescription dip in Baraclude by 13% and Viread by 28%, affected by COVID-19? Except for Vemlidy, most of the treatments experienced sharp fall in prescription volume.

 

The top market leaders Viread and Baraclude (entecavir) have lost two-digit percent volume.

 

From last year second quarter to this year second quarter, Gilead Science’s Viread prescription has plummeted by 28 percent from 30.6 billion won to 22 billion won.

 

Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) Baraclude prescription has also plunged by 13 percent from 20.2 billion won to 17.7 billion won.

 

The research firm analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic has played a significant role in the rapid change.

 

Due to the novel infectious disease, many patients avoided visiting the healthcare institute and naturally the prescription volume fell.

 

Also the social distancing could have prevented the spreading of the HBV itself.

 

Comparison of outpatient prescription volume of Baraclude generics (left) and Viread generics in second quarters of 2019 and 2020 (Unit: KRW 100 million) Source: UBIST

The generics of Viread and Baraclude had mixed outcome.

 

Baraclude generics took a fall in prescription volume, but Viread generics had a surge.

 

The 20 Baraclude generics’ overall prescription volume fell by 10 percent from 8.2 billion won to 7.4 billion won.

 

Dong-A ST’s Baracle was prescribed the most raising 2.2 billion won, followed by Bukwang Pharm’s Bukwang Entecavir (1.1 billion won), Samil Pharm’s Enped (1 billion won), Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s Baracross (500 million won) and Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Cavir (500 million won).

 

On the other hand, 18 Viread generics’ prescription volume has risen by 9 percent from 3.4 billion won to 3.7 billion won.

 

Dong-A ST’s Virreal had a 45-percent surge from 600 million won to 900 million won.

 

Following after Virreal, Chong Kun Dang’s Tenofobell (800 million won), Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s Virehepa (400 million won), Jeil Pharm’s Tecavir (300 million won) and Samjin Phrm’s Tenolid (300 million won) also had a positive growth in prescription over the year.