[Reporter's View] Gov't OKs JAK inhibitor drug switching

It has been a flexible and swift measure.

 

Drug-switching between JAK inhibitors and biological agents for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis will be reimbursed starting in March.

 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) issued an administration notice of a partial revision draft of the pharmaceutical long-term care reimbursement requirement standard.

 

In this administrative notice, the MOHW improved the standard so that despite previous treatment with biological agents, when a patient does not adequately respond or has no tolerability, drug switching to JAK inhibitors will be covered by reimbursement.

 

Also, when a patient does not benefit from JAK inhibitors or cannot continue treatment due to side effects (the switched drug is recommended to be administered for at least 6 months), one can switch to biological agents.

 

Reimbursement is not provided when a patient switches to another drug more than once.

 

Concerns have been raised often regarding drug switching not being covered by reimbursement in South Korea.

 

At the end of last year, an issue in one area was resolved.

 

The MOHW decided to approve drug switching for rheumatoid arthritis patients when tumor necrosis factors (TNF) or JAK inhibitors are not effective or cannot continue treatment due to side effects.

 

Of course, there is still room for improvement regarding expanded reimbursement for atopic dermatitis medicines.

 

Drug switching between the same class medicines has been excluded from the reimbursement list.

 

We must acknowledge that this is the first step.

 

The current expanded reimbursement is a result of the government's swift response.

 

Until now, the government has been hesitant to reimburse JAK inhibitor drug switching due to insufficient clinical evidence.

 

For atopic dermatitis, reimbursement was no longer provided when a patient used biological agents, such as interleukin, or oral agents, like JAK inhibitors, and then switched to another medicine.

 

Despite experiencing side effects after the initial treatment or ineffectiveness, patients were not easily switched to another medicine.

 

Academics have consistently provided opinions.

 

However, the government faced difficulty revising the system without documents showing clear evidence.

 

It was reviewed multiple times but did not result in expanded reimbursement.

 

Amid this situation, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association submitted a statement that drug switching must be allowed for the atopic dermatitis area.

 

Furthermore, the association stated that after the revision of the guidelines after nine years, there were no therapeutic differences between biological agents and oral agents.

 

The government responded again to multiple requests.

 

At the end of last year, a review was started again regarding drug switching for atopic dermatitis.

 

Soon after, the government responded to requests swiftly.

 

Clear communication can provide another opportunity.

 

The effective communication between the health and welfare authority and clinical practices deserves praise.