Pfizer Korea said Friday the company would do its utmost to ensure patient access to its breast cancer drug Ibrance (compound: palbociclib) for Korean patients.

Many Korean patients have expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s proposal for a program, which offered a 30-percent refund of the prescription costs, asking why the company distributes Ibrance to British patients for free, but not in this country.

In a commitment sent to Korean Biomedical Review, Pfizer Korea_{한국화이자} ensured to treat Korean patients properly regarding the controversy, announcing its plan.

“Pfizer’s Korea launched the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) this month to demonstrate our effort to ensure patients have better access to treatment while the reimbursement evaluation process is ongoing,” a company official said. “The program will be available to the patient until reimbursement.”

Asked about providing Ibrance free of charge for up to five months for the U.K. and not for Korea, Pfizer pointed out that healthcare systems differ from country to country and they are working closely with regulatory agencies and reimbursement bodies in each country to support rapid access to new and innovative medicines.

The program in the U.K. is unique and a bespoke response to the current regulatory and access environment in the U.K., they added.

“Pfizer Korea’s priority is to make Ibrance broadly accessible and available to patients in Korea, and we will continue our efforts to work in close cooperation with the government for seeking reimbursement,” the company official said. “Ensuring immediate patient access to treatment remains our top priority, and we will try our best to achieve this as early as possible.”

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