COMMENTARY

FY2024 Sees Divergence in I/O Drug Sales, Keytruda Thrives while Rivals Face Pricing Headwinds

By Hayate Horiguchi July 4, 2025
Japan’s FY2024 pharmaceutical sales revealed a sharp divergence among immune checkpoint inhibitors as MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) surged toward the 200-billion-yen mark while rivals suffered notable dips due largely to government-imposed re-pricing, a Jiho tally showed. The tally covered prescription drugs…

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COMMENTARY

Japan’s cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) panel has approved a revised handling policy for the CEA system for FY2026, with the health…

By Philip Carrigan

Focus: How to Get the Talent You Need in a Tough MarketThe Japanese life sciences sector presents a challenging landscape for global companies. To succeed, you must move beyond reactive hiring and adopt a truly strategic talent acquisition model. Our…

By Ken Yoshino

Japan’s FY2026 drug price revision, officially announced on March 5, has landed poorly with the pharmaceutical industry — and the…

Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) on November 5 approved the reimbursement listing for a slate of new medicines,…

By Ken Yoshino

The Japanese government on March 7 announced new NHI prices to be applied in the FY2025 drug price revision, revealing…

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…

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