정책
Government, Multinational Pharma Giants in Octagon Bout
September 17th, 2010. Seoul.The Korean government and some of multinational pharma giants' local entities, including Pfizer Korea (한국 화이자), MSD Korea (한국 엠에스디), Abbott Korea (한국 애보트), BMS Korea (한국 비엠에스) and GlaxoSmithKline Korea (한국 글락소스미스클라인), are walking a tightrope not to irritate each other.
However, their conflicting needs continue to put them at odds over the "prix-fix" insurance prices of TNF-α inhibitors (Enbrel, Remicade and Humira - 엔브렐, 레미케이드, 휴미라) and antiviral agents (Baraclude and Hepsera - 바라크루드, 헵세라).
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) said that the pricing negotiation is likely to take time since foreign drug makers are calling for more profitable prices, while patients are asking for something that is more affordable.
The Korean government have often been at odds with multinational drug giants, who own exclusive rights to market drugs for difficult-to-cure and rare symptoms.
Swiss-based Novartis (노바티스) once halted the Korean market supplies of its leukemia drug, Glivec (글리벡) in Year 2002, after the Korean government set the price of the drug at 17,800 won with insurance, which was lower than the 25,000 won the company had demanded.
Glivec is now sold at around 23,000 won.
이탁영 특임
2010.09.18