REGULATORY

Japan Hands Out Orphan Tags to Ianalumab, Bleximenib, and Lots More Drugs

March 23, 2026
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) on March 19 granted orphan drug designation to a raft of compounds, including Novartis Pharma’s ianalumab and Janssen Pharmaceutical’s (J&J) bleximenib. According to an MHLW notification issued the same day, ianalumab was…

To read the full story

Related Article

REGULATORY

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) on March 5 unveiled the revised NHI prices for drugs subject to…

By Kohei Hori

Japan’s pharmaceutical policy appears to be entering a new phase. The government’s newly approved honebuto policy and growth strategy both…

By Philip Carrigan

A few weeks ago, I had coffee with a very talented executive. Let’s call him Kenji. He has a great job, a big salary, and a solid team. But he was unhappy. He felt bored and wanted a new challenge.…

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…