REGULATORY
    Govt’s Draft Reform Timeline Prods MHLW to Discuss Use of “Economic Evaluations” in Reimbursement Decisions in FY2019
    December 11, 2018
    The Japanese government is expected to lean on health ministry panels to deliberate in FY2019 on the possible use of “economic evaluations” for making reimbursement decisions on new drugs and medical technologies, according to its draft reform timeline revealed on…

    LATEST

    DS-8201 Yields 44.2% ORR in HER2-Low Breast Cancer: Daiichi Sankyo
    December 11, 2018
    Daiichi Sankyo said on December 10 that its investigational HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC) DS-8201 (trastuzumab deruxtecan) delivered an overall response rate (ORR) of 44.2% in patients with HER2 low expressing metastatic breast cancer.According to Japan/US PI data presented at…
    Avastin Top-Seller Drug in Japan for 4 Months Running: Encise Snapshot
    December 11, 2018
    Chugai Pharmaceutical’s cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) was the best-selling drug in Japan for the fourth straight month in November with 10.2 billion yen on an NHI price basis, according to a monthly snapshot report released by market research firm Encise.Avastin…
    Pfizer Marks Foray into Japan Biosimilar Market with Remicade Follow-On
    December 11, 2018
    Pfizer Japan launched a biosimilar version of the major rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Remicade (infliximab) on December 10, marking the company’s entry into the Japanese follow-on biologics market.The product, which joined the NHI price list in late November, is indicated…

    Takeda’s £46 Billion Shire Buyout

    Shareholders Give Blessing to £46 Billion Shire Pact as Weber Touts US Foothold

    Takeda Pharmaceutical CEO Christophe Weber highlighted the importance of gaining a strong foothold in the world’s largest pharma market at…

    TRENDS

    Generic Industry at Crossroads: Companies Face Pressing Need to Boost Profitability ahead of FY2020
    By Reiji Anasako

    While generic drugs post solid growth in volume-based shares in Japan, their makers are pondering ways to retool their business…

    COMMENTARY

    Does Dissolution of Japan Vaccine Signal Demise of Model in Vaccine Industry Vision, or Will a Second Round of JV Take Place?
    By Yoshinori Sagehashi

    Daiichi Sankyo and GlaxoSmithKline recently announced that they have agreed to dissolve their joint venture company, Japan Vaccine. The failure of this model of joint venture between a major Japanese and foreign drug maker in just six years is disappointing.Over…

    COLUMN

    Expat Truths from the Japanese Medical Device World
    By Gregory Ng

    To many people, Japan has always been one of the world’s most advanced economies and a market of rich opportunities with one of the top healthcare systems worldwide.Add a rapidly changing demographic, a declining workforce, and the constant challenges of…

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