BUSINESS
    Japan’s Big 4 Wholesalers Lower Operating Margin as COVID-19 Windfall Recedes
    By Tatsuya Otsuka November 18, 2025
    Japan’s four leading pharmaceutical wholesalers reported an average operating profit margin of 1.02% in their drug distribution businesses for the April-September first half of FY2025, according to a Jiho tally, slipping slightly from the same…

    LATEST

    Nxera Unveils Restructuring Plan to Return to Profit, 15% Job Cuts in Japan and UK
    November 18, 2025
    Nxera Pharma on November 17 unveiled a restructuring plan that will streamline R&D operations and cut about 15% of its workforce in Japan and the UK as it seeks to return to profit. The company…
    Vital KSK to Repurpose Shield’s Iron Deficiency Drug for PAH in Japan
    November 18, 2025
    Japanese wholesaler group Vital KSK Holdings will develop ferric maltol, an oral iron deficiency therapy licensed from UK drug maker Shield Therapeutics, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in Japan.Medleap Pharma, Vital KSK’s…
    Lundbeck Files Anti-CGRP Antibody Eptinezumab in Japan
    November 18, 2025
    Lundbeck has filed its investigational anti-CGRP antibody eptinezumab in Japan for the prevention of migraine attacks — a step that could lead to the Danish pharma’s first marketing authorization in the country.The submission, made on…

    COMMENTARY

    MOF Autumn Proposals Signal a Shift from Drug Pricing to Cost-Sharing Reform
    By Ken Yoshino

    As Japan approaches the Fiscal System Council’s “autumn recommendation,” a notable shift is taking shape. The Ministry of Finance (MOF),…

    Chuikyo Debate on FY2026 Drug Pricing Reform

    Chuikyo Backs Halving Profit Coefficient for Conditionally Approved Regenerative Medicines
    By Ken Yoshino

    Japan is set to tighten reimbursement rules for regenerative medicine products granted conditional, time-limited approval, with Central Social Insurance Medical…

    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,…

    COLUMN

    The Unseen Edge & the Shadow of Bias: Awareness as the Cornerstone of Leadership Success
    By Philip Carrigan

    In the complex tapestry of leadership, awareness isn’t just a desirable trait; it’s the bedrock upon which success is built. It’s the lens through which leaders perceive, interpret, and navigate the ever-shifting landscape of their organizations and industries. Without it,…

    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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