BUSINESS

Quake Causes Eye Drug Maker to Stop Shipments Except Refrigerated Meds

January 10, 2024

Nitto Medic, an eye drug specialist headquartered in Toyama, said on January 9 that it is suspending the shipments of all products excluding refrigerated medicines due to the impact of a massive New Year’s Day earthquake in central Japan.

Although the company has a certain level of inventories, the quake crippled its automated warehouse, making it impossible to take out the stored products. Urgent repair work is now underway, and the timeline for re-supplies will be announced once the company has a clear prospect, it said in a letter posted in its healthcare professional website.

Subject to the shipment suspension are 69 products, predominantly eye drops.

Meanwhile, generic and OTC drug manufacturer Kyorin Rimedio also said the same day that it is suspending the shipments of four products (two APIs). A contractor logistics firm confirmed the damage to these products after the temblor, it explained. The damage to the building is not extensive, and at this point, the company sees no problem to the supply of other products, it said.

Related Article

BUSINESS

By Hayate Horiguchi

The number of new graduates hired for sales rep roles increased in FY2025 after declining for five consecutive years, a…

By Philip Carrigan

The traditional HR Business Partner (HRBP) model, once the gold standard for HR delivery, is undergoing a significant transformation. Many organizations, particularly in industries like pharmaceuticals, are moving towards a more agile resource model, aiming to streamline HR operations and…

The Japanese government approved a bill to amend the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (PMD) Act at its Cabinet meeting on…

Japan’s health ministry doled out regulatory approvals for a throng of new medicines on December 27 including Eli Lilly’s obesity…

By Ken Yoshino

Japan’s key reimbursement policy panel on December 25 approved an outline of the FY2025 drug price revision, finalizing plans to…

For the first time in many years, Japan appeared to have pivoted to a pro-innovation path with the FY2024 drug pricing reform. All eyes were apparently on this course change as seen in this year’s most-read story list, though the…

A Japanese health ministry panel discussing the generic industry structure on May 22 put together a report in which it…

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) posted the final report compiled by its pharmaceutical regulation panel on its website on April 24, providing cases of drugs that could be exempted from all-case post marketing surveillance (PMS).The MHLW plans…

Japan’s all-important reimbursement policy panel on December 20 approved an outline of drug pricing reforms for FY2024, which enshrines a…

By Yoshinori Sagehashi

The Japanese health ministry’s expert panel tasked to discuss comprehensive policies for the rapid and stable supply of pharmaceuticals generally…