The NHIA announced on the 2nd that 8 new drugs will be available on the NHI Benefit Scheme as soon as from March.  The 8 new drugs include a combination of targeted therapy drugs for melanoma, a PARP inhibitor for triple-negative breast cancer, and a monoclonal antibody for preventing migraine.  About 2581 patients a year will benefit from this new reimbursement policy.

This list of new drugs also includes an injection for treating cancer-related fatigue.  This new drug was developed and had the first worldwide launched in Taiwan.  The injection costs NT$12,650 per dose.  Dr Wang Cheng-Hsu, President of the Hope Foundation, expressed that this new drug will help late stage cancer patients who often suffer from fatigue which affects their everyday life. 

According to Huang Zhou-Jei of the NHIA, the clinical trial results show that this injection for cancer-related fatigue has a significant result on breast cancer patients.  Hence, stage 4 breast cancer patients will be in the first wave to receive this NHI-reimbursed injection.    The NHIA will consider expanding the eligibility of the injection according to future trial results.

Also on the list is a monoclonal antibody for preventing migraine.  This new drug is priced at NT$11,226 per injection.  Patients will need one injection every month.  The NHIA estimates that in the next 5 years, about 930 patients will be eligible for this new drug. The total cost is NT$48.7 million.

Dr Wang Shuu-Jiun, Director of the Department of Neurology Neurological Institute of the TVGH¸ expressed that migraine is the first non-cancer condition that causes disability in people under 50.  Studies show that the serum concentrations of CGRP are elevated during a chronic migraine attack.  Using monoclonal antibody to reduce the neuropeptide could help prevent migraine.  This new drug provides an additional choice for patients who do not respond well to existing treatments.

【2021-02-03 / United Daily】