Roche’s Phesco will be covered by health insurance starting this month, as announced by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Phesco, approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), is now eligible for coverage in combination with chemotherapy for various stages of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Patients with early-stage breast cancer will pay 30 percent for upfront chemotherapy and 100 percent for postoperative adjuvant therapy. Those with metastatic breast cancer will see a reduced copayment of 5 percent for first-line treatment.
Phesco significantly shortens the infusion time compared to previous therapies. It is priced at 3.49 million won ($2,554) for the 600/600 mg vial and 5.91 million won for the 1,200/600 mg vial. HIRA has set its reimbursement rate to match Perjeta, delaying Phesco’s inclusion in the reimbursement list until a year after its August 2023 approval.
HIRA also updated the coverage criteria for Cyramza (ramucirumab) and removed Lynparza (olaparib) capsules from the Drug Benefit List due to discontinuation, with the switch to tablets already approved.
