‘Ilaris,’ an ultra-orphan drug indicated for only 13 patients in Korea, is reattempting to be listed for insurance benefit.

According to industry sources, Novartis Korea recently submitted an application to receive insurance benefits for its hereditary periodic fever syndrome treatment ‘Ilaris (canakinumab). This is the first attempt made by the company since it was denied reimbursement by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service’s Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee in 2017.

Among the various Hereditary Periodic Fever Syndrome conditions, the drug was approved in 2015 in Korea for the treatment of ▲Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), ▲Tumor Necrosis Fac