REGULATORY
    CEA Transparency Gains Welcome, but Guidelines Need Scrutiny: Economist
    By Ken Yoshino September 30, 2026
    Efforts to improve transparency in Japan’s cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) system are a step forward, but they should not distract from unresolved questions over the validity of the analytical guidelines underpinning the system, health economist Ataru…

    LATEST

    Toho, Reprocell Tie Up on Cell Therapy Distribution in Japan
    September 30, 2026
    Toho Holdings and Reprocell have reached a basic agreement to explore a partnership for the Japanese distribution of Stemchymal, a stem cell therapy product currently under regulatory review, the wholesale major said on September 29.The…
    Outside the Bubble: Lunch with Pharma Delegates
    September 30, 2026
    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…
    More Company Involvement in CEA a Big Positive: C2H Researcher
    September 29, 2026
    A senior researcher at Japan’s public cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) body has welcomed moves to give drug makers more opportunities to attend CEA organization meetings, while arguing that many new drugs actually face cost-effectiveness challenges.Takeru Shiroiwa,…

    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

    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…

    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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