Alagille Syndrome Treatment "Livmaliac" Now Covered by National Health Insurance

GC Green Cross Improves Access to Pediatric Rare Disease Treatments
Reduces Risk of Liver Transplantation and Death by Approximately 70%

GC Green Cross announced on January 1 that Livmaliac (ingredient: maralixibat), a treatment for Alagille syndrome (ALGS), has been included in the national health insurance reimbursement list according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's official notice, and will now be covered by insurance.

GC Green Cross employees are celebrating the salary application of Livmaliac. GC Green Cross

With this reimbursement listing, Livmaliac has become the first treatment option in Korea for Alagille syndrome to be covered by national health insurance.

Livmaliac is an innovative therapy that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of bile acids in the intestine, and is used to improve cholestatic pruritus seen in patients with Alagille syndrome. A comparative analysis between the Livmaliac clinical trial group and the external natural history cohort (GALA) showed that the Livmaliac treatment group had approximately a 70% lower risk of major events, such as liver transplantation or death, compared to the control group.

Alagille syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that develops in childhood and causes chronic liver disease, accompanied by severe pruritus and growth impairment. When symptoms worsen, patients often have no choice but to rely on high-risk surgeries such as liver transplantation, resulting in significant caregiving, financial, and psychological burdens for both patients and their caregivers. With this insurance coverage, earlier disease management is now possible, and the treatment burden for both patients and caregivers is expected to be substantially reduced.

Ko Jaesung, Professor of Pediatrics at Seoul National University Hospital, explained, "In the past, when symptoms worsened, liver transplantation was often the only option. The ability to control blood bile acid levels with Livmaliac is clinically significant, as it is expected to delay or even avoid liver transplantation in some patients."

Park Jinyoung, Head of the Specialty Care Division at GC Green Cross, stated, "After approval, Livmaliac was provided free of charge to Alagille syndrome patients in need of pruritus treatment through the Korea Orphan & Essential Drug Center as a public interest initiative. We will continue to expand practical treatment options that provide real help to patients and caregivers in the field of rare and intractable diseases."