REGULATORY
    6 Drugs Face Generic Entries, 2 Firms to Roll Out Symbicort Copies: December Listing
    December 12, 2019
    Six drugs will newly see the entry of generic competitors in Japan upon their listing on December 13 including Symbicort (budesonide + formoterol), with two companies poised to pit their products against AstraZeneca’s major COPD treatment, which raked in 47…

    LATEST

    AstraZeneca, Hitachi to Jointly Research Pathogenesis and Prognosis of COPD
    December 12, 2019
    The Japan arm of AstraZeneca and Hitachi said on December 11 that they have inked a collaboration research agreement on the pathogenesis and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aiming to publish a paper detailing the results next spring.Under…
    Teribone Autoinjector Hits Shelves
    December 12, 2019
    Asahi Kasei Pharma launched a subcutaneous autoinjector version of its osteoporosis drug Teribone (teriparatide acetate) on December 11.The new formulation joined the NHI price list on November 27, offering a new option in addition to the drug’s conventional vial version.…
    Xolair Adds Pollen Allergy Use in Japan after 19-Day Delay
    December 12, 2019
    Novartis’ asthma drug Xolair (omalizumab) received Japanese approval for an additional indication of pollen allergy on December 11, with the nod coming after a 19-day delay as the company asked regulators to push back their…

    FY2020 Drug Pricing Reform

    Chuikyo Pushes Up-to-5-Band Plan to Address Unreasonable Generic Price Rises, Prods Industry Reorganization

    Members of a key reimbursement policy panel on December 6 continued to push for the creation of separate generic price bands for both middle and lower bands under the current three price-band grouping rule as a way to address unreasonable…

    Reimbursement Listing in 2018-2019

    Japan’s First Biosimilars of Avastin, Nesp, Forteo Receive Listing

    The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) on November 27 added to the NHI price list Japan’s first biosimilars of Avastin (bevacizumab), Nesp (darbepoetin alfa), and Forteo (teriparatide). The NHI prices of first biosimilars are set at 70% of…

    FY2019 H1 Earnings

    8 Japan Majors Log Combined Sales Rise in 1st Half on Shire Buy, Solid Earnings at Home

    Combined sales of eight major Japanese drug makers grew nearly 26% year on year in April-September, pushed up by the acquisition of Shire by Takeda Pharmaceutical. Even excluding the industry leader, though, seven firms still collectively eked out a slight…

    COMMENTARY

    Unison Capital Shows Rising Presence with Kyowa Deal, PE Fund Potential Catalyst for Industry Shakeup?
    By Reiji Anasako

    Indian generic maker Lupin is casting off Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry, which it acquired in 2007. Forking over 57.4 billion yen…

    INTERVIEW

    Pharma Industry Watered Down Original Proposals for Pricing Overhaul, Corrections Necessary: Kenporen Director
    By Yoshinori Sagehashi

    As Japan gears up for its next drug pricing reform in April 2020, Shoji Kono, director of the National Federation…

    TRENDS

    Sales per Drug Rep Hits Record High in FY2018 as Downsizing Speeds Up
    By Reiji Anasako

    Pharmaceutical sales per rep in Japan, a yardstick for “productivity” at drug makers, reached a record 172 million yen in FY2018, up 20 million yen from five years ago, as companies continue ramping up their job-shedding drive in a bid…

    FY2018 Earnings Roundup

    Japanese Drug Makers Beefing Up China Biz amid Regulatory Tailwind
    By Reiji Anasako

    Riding on the back of an improved regulatory environment in China, major Japanese drug makers are moving to expand their businesses in the world’s second largest pharma market. Companies are pumping up their new drug pipelines, while forging solid sales…

    My Viewpoint on CEA

    Ensuring Patient Access Was MHLW’s Top Priority for CEA Scheme: Policy Planning Director
    By Yoshinori Sagehashi

    Some seven years in the making, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) finally rolled out a cost-effectiveness assessment…

    HTA Debates in 2018-2019

    Japan to Roll Out Cost-Effectiveness Assessment Scheme in April

    Japan will go ahead with the introduction of a cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) scheme for drugs and medical devices in April…

    COLUMN

    A Peek into the Digital Pharmaceutical Industry
    By Philip Carrigan

    While the digital transformation may only be in its infancy in the pharmaceutical industry, the winds of change are here. It’s only a matter of time until customers and patients demand a higher level of service, experience, and connectivity from…

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