The Beijing Puhui Health Insurance Program has added an imported version of Nefecon (budesonide) delayed release capsule to its 2023 New Reimbursement Drug List of Specialized Medicines.
Nefecon is the first-in-disease treatment for adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration under accelerated approval as the trademark “TARPEYO®” to reduce proteinuria in adults with IgAN and a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≥ 1.5 g/g. This listing of Nefecon with the Beijing Puhui Health Insurance Program as “TARPEYO” will provide access and benefit to many patients in need.
Since its launch two years ago, the Beijing Puhui Health Insurance Program has seen a phenomenal uptake, with over 6 million people signing up for the program. Not only does it cover 100 specialized drugs that are not listed in the National Reimbursement Drug List, but it also includes imported drugs from overseas, such as those newly marketed abroad and those that can only be prescribed in designated medical institutions in Boao Lecheng.
A generous maximum coverage of 1 million yuan a year provides peace of mind to its enrollees. Recently, the insurance program has been updated to include Nefecon, effective May 5, 2023.
Everest Medicines is proud to announce that Nefecon has been added to the Beijing Puhui Health Insurance Program’s drug reimbursement list, enabling patients to receive up to 60% reimbursement of their drug costs. This inclusion can help reduce the financial burden for patients and encourage them to stay on their treatment plan.
Nefecon was made available for clinical use in April and is expected to receive nationwide approval in the second half of this year. In addition to Beijing, Nefecon has also been included in other local insurance programs, such as those in Kunming city and Shanxi Province. This allows more IgAN patients in China to access this first-in-disease medicine and obtain the care they need.
About Nefecon
Nefecon is a revolutionary new formulation of budesonide, a corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity. Delivered in a delayed-release capsule, Nefecon is designed to target the mucosal B-cells present in the ileum, thought to be the root of the disease.
Upon ingestion, the capsule’s enteric coating ensures that the budesonide remains intact until it reaches its intended destination, allowing for a targeted release of the medication to the area most affected by the disease.
In June 2019, Everest Medicines made a landmark agreement with Calliditas, granting exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Nefecon in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea. This royalty-bearing license agreement was extended in March 2022, further cementing Everest Medicine’s commitment to providing quality healthcare solutions to the region.
Nefecon has recently been approved in the United States after achieving remarkable results in a Phase 3 clinical trial, NefIgArd. The global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated a statistically significant benefit for Nefecon over placebo in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a measure of renal function. This is a major breakthrough for those suffering from proteinuria and other renal issues, as Nefecon has been proven to significantly improve eGFR.
About Everest Medicines
Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical powerhouse with a mission to bring transformative pharmaceuticals and vaccines to Asian markets. Our experienced management team has extensive experience from both global and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies, giving us the know-how to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products that address unmet medical needs.
We’ve built a portfolio of potentially groundbreaking therapies, many of which are in late-stage clinical development. Our top therapeutic areas are renal diseases, infectious diseases, mRNA platform, and autoimmune disorders.