Drug Information Q&A Q51. What are the roles and missions of the pharmaceutical industry?
Answer
In addition to providing drugs, the pharmaceutical industry is actively involved in creating an environment that enables the prompt provision of drugs to those who need them.
Explanation
Drugs are important products that directly affect people's lives and health. They cannot be replaced by other products.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure the efficacy and safety of drugs, and the development, manufacture, and sale of drugs are conducted under strict legal regulations, including the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. In this sense, the pharmaceutical industry has a different character, role, and mission from other industries.
Drugs prevent and cure diseases and support the realization of healthy and secure lifestyles.
The combination of drugs and advances in medical technology has made it possible to treat diseases that were once inaccessible. As a result, human life expectancy has been extended and healthy life expectancy has been extended.
The development of effective and safe drugs contributes to fewer surgeries, shorter hospital stays and treatment days, and improved quality of life (QOL). In addition to treatment, it will also lead to prevention of disease and recurrence. In this way, the program contributes to reducing the burden on patients and curbing medical costs.
The pharmaceutical industry is also actively engaged in the development of drugs for intractable diseases that are difficult to treat and so-called "orphan drugs" (see Q54), which are drugs for less than 50,000 patients.
The pharmaceutical industry is also working to eliminate the "drug lag" (see Q39). We aim to create an environment in which drugs that are used and effective overseas can be delivered to Japanese patients as quickly as possible.
Another major theme of the pharmaceutical industry is to solve the problem of "unapproved drugs" and "off-label drugs" that are approved overseas but not approved in Japan. Efforts are being made to promptly provide effective and safe drugs for patients suffering from illnesses and their families (see Q52).
In addition, the development of a single drug requires a variety of studies and technologies. The process of developing a drug involves not only medical and pharmaceutical sciences, but also biology, chemistry, engineering, and many other fields of study, all of which promote cutting-edge research. In other words, the pharmaceutical industry contributes to the improvement of the level of science and technology and the development of professional human resources through the development of drugs.
The revenues secured to maintain and stimulate R&D activities are expected to contribute to economic growth by generating stable tax-bearing capacity that is unaffected by economic and social conditions, and by securing employment for a large number of specialized human resources.
Chart/Column
51｜Three Contributions of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Source: "Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Guide 2012-2013
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