The latest updates on the medical insurance reimbursement policy for bicizumab

Bimekizumab (Bimekizumab), as an IL-17A/IL-17F dual-target inhibitor approved in many markets around the world in recent years, has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The drug has been officially approved for marketing in China in 2024 and is suitable for adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who require systemic treatment. However, in terms of medical insurance coverage, bicizumab has not yet been included in the national basic medical insurance drug catalog, which is also a common situation when most innovative biologics initially enter the Chinese market.

From a policy perspective, the National Medical Insurance Administration organizes a drug catalog negotiation every year, which usually requires listed drugs to have clear clinical advantages, reasonable prices, and controllable medical insurance. Although bichizumab has good efficacy and safety and has been recommended by many foreign guidelines as one of the first-line biological treatment options for psoriasis, it has not yet participated in the medical insurance negotiation process due to its short time on the market in China. Therefore, patients need to pay for the drug at their own expense at the current stage, and the financial burden is relatively high.

Currently, the market access and supply management of bichizumab sold in China is handled byUCB Pharma China Branch, and some large hospitals and dermatology specialist institutions have launched prescription services. If patients hope to reduce the financial pressure on medication in the future, they can pay attention to the dynamic updates of the National Medical Insurance Directory, which is usually announced in a centralized manner from November to December every year. If the drug is subsequently successfully included in the medical insurance list, the price may drop significantly and more patients will benefit.

In general, the medical insurance coverage of bichizumab in China is still in the initial stage. Although it is not included in the basic medical insurance, it has a high potential to be included in the future as clinical use expands and medical insurance negotiations advance. Patients should pay attention to official information and notices from medical institutions and arrange treatment plans appropriately.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/bimekizumab.html