Uptake of Peg-IFN agents for HCV in China and South Korea hindered by relatively high cost and their partial reimbursement status

Although pegylated interferon (peg-IFN; Roche’s Pegasys, Merck & Co’s PegIntron) combined with ribavirin is recommended as first-line therapy by the Chinese HCV (hepatitis C virus) Prevention and Treatment Guidelines as well as the National Health Insurance (NHI) of South Korea, the uptake of peg-IFN agents is hindered by their relatively high cost and their partial reimbursement status in both countries, according to a new report from health care advisory firm Decision Resources.

The peg-IFNs are included on China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), but with type B status. All interviewed payers believe that these agents are unlikely to achieve Type A status (which equates to 100% reimbursement) because the associated cost burden is beyond the affordability of the state health care budget. In South Korea, peg-IFN is reimbursed at 50%, the standard reimbursement rate for hospital-administered therapies. Among surveyed specialists in both China and South Korea, unaffordable co-pay is noted prominently as the reason why some virus-diagnosed patients do not, or no longer, receive treatment.

Preference for Pegasys over PegIntron