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 Ken Yoshino

Japan’s ruling coalition sustained a crushing blow in the Lower House election last month, only managing to win 215 seats,…

By Philip Carrigan

For over two decades, Morunda has been at the forefront of interviewing and understanding leaders within Japan’s dynamic healthcare industry, particularly in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. What sets apart successful country managers in this competitive arena isn’t just their professional…

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

A Japanese health ministry study group focused on pharmaceutical regulations on March 21 agreed on a policy to encourage the…

The Japanese health ministry on December 22 approved a batch of medicines for additional indications, including Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s atypical antipsychotic Rexulti (brexpiprazole) and Zenyaku Kogyo’s anti-CD20 antibody Rituxan (rituximab).Rexulti is now newly indicated for the treatment of depression and depressive…

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…

A key Japanese reimbursement policy panel on December 16 approved the government-backed plan for the FY2023 “off-year” drug price revision.…

Authorized generic (AG) strategies taken by innovative drug makers might help soften the impact of generic competition in their businesses but such tactics might also accelerate the application of “G1”/“G2” price cuts for their off-patent brand-name medicines, a Jiho tally…

Japan’s health ministry announced new NHI prices to be applied in April under the FY2022 drug price revision in the official gazette on March 4, with the earlier application of so-called “G1” price cuts to be implemented for the first…