BUSINESS
    Taiho Takes Small-Molecule Expertise into ADCs; 3-Payload IND Due This Year
    By Kimi Orita September 14, 2026
    Taiho Pharmaceutical is looking to bring its small-molecule drug discovery expertise to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), aiming to develop novel payloads that can be paired with the technology it acquired through last year’s takeover of…

    LATEST

    Japan Pharma Investment Subgroup to Hold 1st Meeting September 18
    September 14, 2026
    The Japanese government will convene the first meeting of a new public-private subgroup on September 18 to flesh out measures under its investment roadmap for drug discovery, bringing together pharma industry leaders, experts, and officials…
    Japan Formally Joins Project Orbis for Cancer Drug Reviews
    September 14, 2026
    Japan is formally participating in Project Orbis, a US FDA-led international collaborative review program for cancer drugs, after taking part as an observer since 2022.The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)…
    MHLW Seeks 20.6 Billion Yen for MCM Stockpiles, Revenue Guarantees
    September 14, 2026
    The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is seeking 20.6 billion yen in its FY2027 budget request to secure medical countermeasures (MCMs) through government purchases, stockpiling, and revenue guarantees for drug makers.MCMs are critical…

    Chuikyo Debate on FY2026 Drug Pricing Reform

    Romiplate to See Steepest Cut in April Market Expansion Re-Pricing

    Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) on March 5 unveiled the revised NHI prices for drugs subject to…

    COMMENTARY

    As US Pushes Global Cost Rebalancing, Can Japan Answer with Drug Prices?
    By Ken Yoshino

    Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to respond to the US most-favored-nation (MFN) drug pricing policy to safeguard timely…

    COLUMN

    The One Mistake on Your Resume
    By Philip Carrigan

    We had just gotten off a call with a client in Europe, and we’d received a bit of an earful. “Philip,” the client pressed, “what can this candidate bring to us? We know what he does, but what has he…

    Drug Approval & Reimbursement in 2025

    Chuikyo OKs Listing of Novartis’ Pluvicto, Peak Sales Outlook at 42.1 Billion Yen

    Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) on November 5 approved the reimbursement listing for a slate of new medicines,…

    Chuikyo Debate on Off-Year Drug Price Revisions

    MHLW Unveils New List Prices for FY2025 Revision; Stelara, Januvia Hit by PMP Return
    By Ken Yoshino

    The Japanese government on March 7 announced new NHI prices to be applied in the FY2025 drug price revision, revealing…

    Discussions on Next PMD Act Amendment

    Japan Cabinet Approves Bill to Amend PMD Act

    The Japanese government approved a bill to amend the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (PMD) Act at its Cabinet meeting on…

    Drug Approval & Reimbursement in 2024

    Japan Approves Zepbound, Qalsody, and Lots More Drugs

    Japan’s health ministry doled out regulatory approvals for a throng of new medicines on December 27 including Eli Lilly’s obesity…

    Chuikyo on FY2024 Reimbursement Reform

    Chuikyo OKs Outline of FY2024 Drug Pricing Reform; No Unprofitability Re-Pricing for 7%-Plus Price Gap

    Japan’s all-important reimbursement policy panel on December 20 approved an outline of drug pricing reforms for FY2024, which enshrines a…

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