K Hospital informs about using Russian cancer drug Pembroria in treatment

K Hospital is completing procedures to include the Russian cancer treatment drug Pembroria - priced at about 18 million VND/bottle - in its treatment regimen in the near future.

K Hospital is taking the necessary steps to put the Russian cancer treatment drug Pembroria into use in the near future. However, this process needs time to complete procedures and organize bidding according to regulations. When completed, the hospital will have an official announcement.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Binh, Deputy Director of K Hospital, the unit has not yet included the drug Pembroria – containing the active ingredient Pembrolizumab produced by Russia – in the treatment regimen for patients.

“ We always prioritize updating advances in cancer treatment to bring better life chances to patients. However, the use of new drugs must be based on scientific basis and official guidance from the Ministry of Health , ” said Mr. Binh.

Cancer patients treated at K Hospital.

Prof. Dr. Le Van Quang, Director of K Hospital, said that the hospital is completing the bidding procedures and hopes to soon put the drug into treatment. The expected selling price is about 18 million VND per bottle, patients usually use two bottles per course, with a course of treatment from 12 to 24 courses or until they no longer respond to the drug. Currently, health insurance does not cover this drug.

According to the representative of the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health), the application for a license to circulate the drug Pembroria has been fully submitted by the company. The drug will complete clinical studies from 2024 and be evaluated for immunogenicity - a mandatory requirement for biosimilar drugs.

Immunogenicity is the ability of a biological drug to cause an immune response in the user’s body. When applying for circulation in Vietnam, the manufacturer must prove the similarity between Pembroria and the original drug of the pharmaceutical company MSD (USA), licensed since 2017.

The Ministry of Health's licensing advisory board has carefully reviewed the biosimilarity data and immunogenicity reports before allowing the drug to be circulated in Vietnam. The licensing allows businesses to import, distribute and trade the drug like other treatment products.

During the circulation process, enterprises must monitor and periodically report on the effectiveness, safety and immunogenicity of the drug within 3 to 5 years as prescribed.

A representative of the Drug Administration of Vietnam said that Pembroria is not a new drug, but a biological product similar to the original drug that has been circulating globally. Vietnam currently has many drugs in the same monoclonal antibody group with similar effects, which have been licensed for use in cancer treatment for many years.

vtcnews.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/benh-vien-k-thong-tin-ve-viec-dua-thuoc-ung-thu-pembroria-cua-nga-vao-dieu-tri-post886705.html