Curocell, a Korean biotechnology company specializing in CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor t) therapies, has officially submitted an application to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) for the reimbursement listing of its CAR-T treatment, Rimqarto.
Rimqarto is a next-generation CAR-T therapy developed for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). In its phase 2 clinical trials, Rimqarto demonstrated a complete response rate of 67.1 percent, proving its efficacy and strong safety profile.
With this application, Rimqarto has initiated the evaluation process for health insurance coverage. HIRA will assess Rimqarto’s clinical efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and overall therapeutic value before determining its eligibility for reimbursement.
Although CAR-T therapies are known for their high costs, the reimbursement of Novartis’ Kymriah in Korea sets a precedent, increasing expectations for Rimqarto’s inclusion in the national health insurance system.
If approved, the company expects that Rimqarto’s reimbursement will significantly improve treatment accessibility for patients with LBCL and alleviate their financial burden.
“We have completed the reimbursement application process to expedite Rimqarto’s commercialization in Korea,” Curocell CEO Kim Gun-soo said. “Our goal is to provide innovative treatment options and ensure that more patients benefit from Rimqarto.”
Meanwhile, Rimqarto has also been selected for advanced biomedicine expedited approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, allowing for a faster approval and reimbursement process compared to traditional regulatory timelines.
The initiative is expected to accelerate Rimqarto’s market entry and broaden patient access.
