COMMENTARY

Wave of “World Firsts” Looms as 47 New Drug Candidates Line Up for 2026

By Shinya Sato January 6, 2026
As many as 47 new drug candidates are expected to win approval or secure NHI price listing in Japan in 2026, according to a Jiho survey — with a high concentration of “world firsts,” including an iPS cell-derived treatment for…

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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 Tatsuya Otsuka

Japan’s biotech startups are coming under growing pressure as the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) tightens its rules for companies listed…

By Philip Carrigan

The Japanese healthcare sector is experiencing rapid growth, demanding a highly skilled and diverse workforce. However, finding and attracting the best talent in this competitive market presents significant challenges.Enter AI. With the rise of AI-powered tools, healthcare organizations can revolutionize…

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…