84% of the Public: “Innovation Means Being Able to Use It”…Calls to Include Social Value in Assessing Drug Innovation 8 out of 10 say “Access is as important as efficacy”

[by Yu, Suin] According to the results of the “Public Perception Survey on Drug Innovation” conducted by the research agency Macromill Embrain, a majority of Koreans believe that the evaluation of “innovation” in new medicines should include not only clinical outcomes but also actual patient access. The survey was supported by global oncology company BeOne Medicines Korea, and was conducted from August to October 2025 to objectively understand public awareness and the need for improvement in access to new medicines. The survey included 1,000 adults nationwide aged 20 or older, among whom more than 200 were patients with cancer or severe diseases and their caregivers.

The Standard of Innovation Includes Both “Efficacy” and “Access” — Key Barrier is Financial Burden

Among respondents, 69.5% said they believe that they or a family member may experience cancer or another serious disease. A similar proportion (69.7%) said they believe that using new medicines would be difficult. The biggest obstacles were identified as financial burden (54.2%) and lack of information (52.2%), with seniors perceiving the information gap as an even greater issue. Meanwhile, 47% of respondents with personal or familial experience of severe disease said they had considered treatment with new medicines, yet 74% of them reported experiencing difficulties in receiving such treatment.

Additionally, 84% agreed that “innovation must include access after drug development,” and 82.7% agreed that “a medicine cannot be considered innovative if patients are unable to use it due to financial reasons.” This indicates that many Koreans define drug innovation not only in terms of scientific advancement but also in terms of social value and real-world applicability.

Improving Access to New Medicines Requires Shared Responsibility Across Stakeholders

Respondents identified the government (89%) as the stakeholder with the greatest responsibility for improving access to innovative medicines, followed by medical professionals (83.5%) and pharmaceutical companies (64.2%). Furthermore, 70.8% agreed that “current discussions highlight the responsibility of only certain groups,” and 87.2% agreed that cooperation among government, pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals, patients, and the media is necessary to improve access.

When asked what roles each stakeholder should play, more than 80% of respondents gave positive responses regarding the following:

• Government: Secure flexibility in drug price evaluation and expand reimbursement criteria.

• Medical professionals: Provide new drug information and disease education, and support informed treatment decisions through sufficient communication with patients.

• Pharmaceutical companies: Expand clinical trials and contribute to improving access through timely and reasonable price negotiations.

• Patient organizations: Promote awareness by sharing patient experiences and raising policy improvement proposals.

• Media: Provide objective and balanced information and encourage broader public discussion to support policy reform.

Proposed Improvements to Achieve “Innovation That Reaches Patients”

To deepen understanding of the quantitative findings and identify actionable improvements, in-depth interviews were conducted with experts across government, the pharmaceutical sector, patient organizations, and the media. Across groups, participants emphasized that for innovation to reach patients, cooperation across systems, industry, and society is essential.

First, structural improvements to pricing and reimbursement systems were cited as the most urgent need. Concerns were raised that current systems are based on frameworks established 20 years ago, and that shortages of specialized review personnel and procedural delays remain key bottlenecks. A shared view emerged that a shift toward financial structures prioritized for severe diseases, greater predictability in review procedures, and flexibility in reimbursement criteria that reflect patient circumstances is needed.

Second, participants emphasized the need to build a sustainable ecosystem for new drug supply. Responsible efforts by pharmaceutical companies—including transparent data provision, reasonable price negotiations, and preventing market withdrawal due to pricing pressure—were highlighted.

Finally, experts pointed to the need for patient-centered decision-making and stronger public discourse. They noted that rigid reimbursement standards limit personalized treatment options, and recommended establishing mechanisms that bridge clinical judgment and patient needs. They also highlighted the importance of continuous media coverage and civil society engagement to sustain public attention on access issues.

Jiyeon Lee, Division Head at Macromill Embrain, stated, “This survey shows that the public views drug innovation as a form of social value that must be experienced by patients, not just as scientific achievement. It is time to redefine innovation to include access, and this perspective should be reflected in future policy discussions.”

Jihye Yang, General Manager of BeOne Medicines Korea, said, “This survey confirms the public belief that innovation must be proven in patients’ lives, beyond research laboratories. The rapid reimbursement introduction of BRUKINSA and TEVIMBRA in Korea was enabled by BeOne’s internalized clinical development structure, which shortens research timelines and improves operational efficiency. Innovation can reach patients only when government, healthcare professionals, patient groups, and industry act together.