The health authorities have extended the insurance benefit of Gilead Science’s chronic hepatitis B treatment ‘Vemlidy (tenofovir ala fenamide)’ to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, accelerating the generation shift of HBV drugs in Korea.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 3rd, Vemlidy’s reimbursement standards have been extended starting May 1st for the initial treatment of decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma patients. In the past, insurance benefit was only provided for patients who had been using Vemlidy for HBV and progressed to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. With the expansion of the reimbursement benefit, the phrase ‘reimbursement