Kisunla, a newly approved Alzheimer's drug in Taiwan, would not be covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, while coverage for Leqembi, another Alzheimer's treatment approved this year, is still under review, a health official overseeing the NHI system said yesterday.
Kisunla has already been reviewed by an expert panel, which concluded that although the drug has completed Phase 3 clinical trials, the follow-up period for users was too short and its long-term benefits remain unclear, National Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said in a legislative session.
Given the drug's high cost and references to health technology agencies in the UK, Australia and Canada — none of which recommended it for coverage by public health insurance — the panel decided against recommending it for inclusion in the NHI system, Shih said.
Photo: CNA file photo
As for Leqembi, Shih said its application for NHI coverage was submitted last month and is currently under review.
The drug is to undergo a 45-day Health Technology Assessment (HTA) before being reviewed by an expert panel, with a decision expected early next year, he added.
Jointly developed by Eisai in Japan, Biogen in the US and BioArctic in Sweden, Leqmebi was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in July 2023, while Kisunla, developed by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, received a green light in July last year.
The two medications received approval from Food and Drug Administration earlier this year, but have not been covered by the NHI system, requiring patients to pay out of pocket for treatments that cost more than NT$1 million (US$33,398) per year.
An estimated 350,000 people in Taiwan have some form of dementia, 60 to 70 percent of whom have Alzheimer's disease, said Yan Sui-hing (甄瑞興), director of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital's dementia center.
Yan said about half of those with Alzheimer's may be eligible for the two new treatments, which target patients in the early stages of the disease, totaling fewer than 100,000 people.
Unlike previous medications, Kisunla and Leqembi are the first new treatments for Alzheimer's disease that target the underlying cause rather than just its symptoms, according to hospital, which administered the first dose of Kisunla in Taiwan on June 23.
In terms of expected outcomes, the complete elimination of amyloid plaques — which many researchers believe to be a key cause of Alzheimer's disease due to their abnormal accumulation in the brain — was seen in nearly 70 percent of patients within a year of receiving the two drugs, according to New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital, one of the first hospitals in Taiwan to offer Leqembi.
Leqembi has the potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by 27 percent to 51 percent, while patients receiving Kisunla may see a 29 to 36 percent reduction in disease progression, the Tucheng Hospital added.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS