Due to smaller numbers of ovarian and cervical patients, it has been more than 10 years since a new drug for the diseases has been introduced, leaving only a targeted therapy drug that costs more than NT$1 million for a year’s worth of treatment, a sum few patients can afford. The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) announced that the targeted therapy drug will be covered by the National Health Insurance’s (NHI) reimbursement scheme beginning June, benefitting an estimated 411 patients each year.

The NHIA in a press release on May 13 said that a Pharmaceutical Benefit and Reimbursement Scheme (PBRS) Joint Committee meeting held mid-April approved to add seven new drugs to the NHI’s reimbursement scheme, including a targeted therapy drug that treats late-stage ovarian and cervical cancer patients.

NHIA Medical Review and Pharmaceutical Benefits Division head Tai Hsueh-yung in an interview said that although this type of targeted therapy drug appears to be promising in extending progression-free survival results, its high price and lack of clinical trial data on late-stage ovarian and cervical cancer has long prevented the drug from being included for NHI reimbursement. For patients willing to pay out of pocket, annual costs are estimated at around NT$1 million each year. Due to the heavy financial burden that comes with the targeted therapy drug, many patients have no other option but to weather through the final stage of their ovarian and cervical cancer with NHI-reimbursed chemotherapy.

Tai said that following the publication of a long-term clinical study proving that the drug produces a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival outcome, which prompted its inclusion for NHI drug reimbursement. Data show that there are around 411 ovarian and cervical cancer patients. Following its inclusion for reimbursement, compared to chemotherapy, the targeted therapy drug is anticipated to extend progression-free survival of late-stage ovarian cancer patients by 5.3 months, while extending progression-free survival of late-stage cervical cancer patients by three to nine months, while bringing savings of more than NT$1 million in annual drug expenses.

[2020-05-13 / CNA]