Government, multinationals spar over insurance prices of new drugs

The Korean government and some foreign drug manufacturers, including Pfizer Korea and MSD Korea and Abbott Korea, BMS Korea and GlaxoSmithKline, are walking a tightrope not to irritate each other, but their conflicting needs continue to put them at odds over the insurance prices of TNF-α inhibitors (Enbrel, Remicade and Humira) and antiviral agents (Baraclude and Hepsera).

The Ministry of He...