Posted by Michael Wonder on 02 Oct 2019
CDK4/6 inhibitor+fulvestrant combo nears getting benefit
2 October 2019 - The combination therapy of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitor and fulvestrant for advanced or metastatic breast cancer has taken the first step to receive insurance benefits.
The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)’s Cancer Drug Review Committee decided in September to grant reimbursement for Pfizer’s Ibrance (ingredient: palbociclib) plus fulvestrant and Lilly’s Verzenio (abemaciclib) plus fulvestrant, sources said on Monday.
Earlier, AstraZeneca’s Faslodex (fulvestrant) won reimbursement in April, 11 years after the market release. This prompted Pfizer to seek reimbursement immediately for the combo of Ibrance and fulvestrant. Lilly released rival drug Verzenio and applied for insurance benefit in July. Then, the HIRA’s cancer drug review panel discussed it in September.
