BUSINESS
    MSD Japan Eyes Up to 8 Approvals, 8-Plus Filings under New Chief
    By Ken Yoshino April 10, 2026
    MSD laid out its 2026 ambition at an annual business briefing on April 9, projecting up to eight approvals and at least eight filings under its new president Prashant Nikam, while flagging ongoing challenges around…

    LATEST

    Voranigo and More Meds Missing from April Listing Slate; Servier Plans Packaging Change
    April 10, 2026
    Several companies chose to hold back some of their products from Japan’s latest NHI price listing round amid criticism from members of the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) over delays between approval and reimbursement.A…
    Japan Pharma Workforce Up Slightly; Generic Firms Drive Gains over 5 Years
    April 10, 2026
    The total number of employees at major drug makers in Japan edged up slightly this year despite ongoing workforce reductions across the industry, with gains led by generic and therapeutic area-focused companies over the past…
    Zenyaku, Chugai to End Rituxan Co-Promotion in September
    April 10, 2026
    Zenyaku Kogyo and Chugai Pharmaceutical said on April 9 that they will discontinue their co-promotion arrangement in Japan for the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituxan (rituximab) on September 3.Chugai’s sales of Rituxan will end once its remaining inventory is sold out.…

    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…

    COLUMN

    The Patient North Star: How Gilead Japan Redefined Innovation
    By Philip Carrigan

    In the complex landscape of the Japanese pharmaceutical market, the “status quo” is often the safest harbor. But for leaders like Kennet Brysting, former president of Gilead Japan, the status quo is the most dangerous place to stay.Innovation in Japan…

    COMMENTARY

    Challenges in a Post-AG Era: Ensuring a Reliable Supply System
    By Tatsuya Otsuka

    Japan’s FY2026 drug pricing reform is set to usher in a new phase for the generics market, effectively bringing an…

    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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