REGULATORY
    Chuikyo Backs Broader CEA Price Cuts This Year, Snubs Pharma Plea
    By Ken Yoshino October 1, 2026
    A key reimbursement policy panel on September 30 backed plans to expand price cuts under Japan’s cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) system by the end of 2026, rebuffing the pharmaceutical industry’s call for a freeze on CEA-based…

    LATEST

    Novo Expands Oral Obesity Arsenal, Hengrui Asset Eyed around 2030
    October 1, 2026
    Novo Nordisk is looking to bolster its oral obesity portfolio, with newly licensed Hengrui Pharma candidate HRS-1596 potentially reaching the market around 2030 as the Danish drug maker builds out a broad pipeline of next-generation…
    Bayer Takes Dialogue-Driven Innovation Model Nationwide
    October 1, 2026
    Bayer Yakuhin is rolling out a new dialogue-driven innovation model across Japan as it looks to step up open innovation by engaging researchers and startups earlier and more continuously.The company is launching Bayer Co.Lab Japan,…
    Chugai to Set Up South Korea Unit, Take Sales In-House
    October 1, 2026
    Chugai Pharmaceutical said on September 30 that it will establish a wholly owned subsidiary in South Korea as it moves to build an in-house operation spanning regulatory approval through sales in the country.Chugai Pharma Korea,…

    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…

    COLUMN

    Outside the Bubble: Lunch with Pharma Delegates
    By Philip Carrigan

    The Wednesday TableShe had been on virtual calls since eight in the morning. The screen glowed. Her eyes burned. Plugged into Teams across time zones, she was digitally connected yet entirely isolated from the reality of Japan’s pharma market.She needed…

    COMMENTARY

    Survodutide Could Carve Out Role in MASH as Next-Gen Dual Agonist
    By Shinya Sato

    The development of Boehringer Ingelheim’s survodutide is gathering pace, putting the GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist in contention to become the next…

    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…

    NEWS CATEGORY

    REGULATORY

    BUSINESS

    ORGANIZATION

    ACADEMIA