From JPMA Toward the Creation of an Ecosystem to Enhance Japan's Drug Discovery Capability

Today, the seeds of innovative new drugs are created by academia and venture companies. In order for Japan to remain a nation that creates new drugs, there is an urgent need to build an ecosystem that promotes organic collaboration among various players, including venture companies.

In the "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2022," the government has stated that it will enhance its scientific and technological capabilities by strengthening drug discovery, and in the "New Capitalism Grand Design and Action Plan," it has stated that it will promote efforts to make drug discovery a growth industry. It also positioned "People," "Science, Technology and Innovation," "Startups," "Green Transformation," and "Digital Transformation" as priority investment areas. Furthermore, it declared 2022 as the "First Year of Startup Creation" and declared that it will implement strong support for startups, which are the key to innovation.

Under the "Strategy for Strengthening Vaccine Development and Production System" approved by the Cabinet in 2021, the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) has launched the "Drug Discovery Venture Ecosystem Enhancement Project" and has announced the selection of certified venture capital (VC). The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) welcomes this announcement, believing that many innovative drug seeds will be created through the investment and hands-on support for drug discovery ventures by certified VCs, as well as subsidies provided by this project. We, the pharmaceutical companies, will play a role in the exit strategy of this project, and contribute to the development of many successful cases by leading the seeds created by the drug discovery ventures to practical application.