BUSINESS
    Novo Japan Logs 5.4% Growth in 2025, Sees Wegovy Powering Push for Double-Digit Goal
    March 23, 2026
    Novo Nordisk’s Japan unit posted a 5.4% increase in domestic sales in 2025, its president Keisuke Kotani said at a press conference on March 19, with obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) emerging as the main growth…

    LATEST

    Ex-LDP Lawmaker, Pharmacist Jun Matsumoto Dies at 75
    March 23, 2026
    Jun Matsumoto, a pharmacist and former lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), died on March 19. He was 75. In January, he revealed he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and was undergoing treatment.Matsumoto served seven terms as…
    Gilead’s Japan Revenue Up 15% in 2025 as Trodelvy Gains Traction
    March 19, 2026
    Quick Look:Gilead’s Japan sales rose 15% in 2025, with Trodelvy driving momentum as it lines up multiple label expansions beyond TNBC.The company is also advancing its CAR-T franchise while promoting PrEP use of Truvada in…
    Eisai to Discontinue Tazverik in Japan over Secondary Cancer Risk
    March 19, 2026
    Eisai said on March 19 that it will terminate sales of its cancer drug Tazverik (tazemetostat) in Japan following safety concerns over secondary hematologic malignancies, which had already prompted its French partner Ipsen to withdraw…

    Chuikyo Debate on FY2026 Drug Pricing Reform

    Chuikyo OKs New CEA Handling, with Third-Party Verification Ahead

    Japan’s cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) panel has approved a revised handling policy for the CEA system for FY2026, with the health…

    COMMENTARY

    Beyond Elevidys: Next-Generation DMD Therapies Advance through Multiple Approaches
    By Shinya Sato

    The launch of Elevidys has opened the door to gene therapy for DMD, but research into new treatments is already…

    COLUMN

    The Strategic MSL: Beyond Data Delivery, It’s About Impact
    By Philip Carrigan

    I recently sat down with one of the leading medical directors in Japan to discuss the critical evolution of the medical science liaison (MSL) role.The MSL has transformed from a scientific resource into a strategic partner essential for successful product…

    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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