From JPMA Toward Building a Drug Discovery Ecosystem in the Infectious Disease Field
The 10th Nikkei-FT Infectious Diseases Conference was held over three days from October 16-18, 2023, and on the 17th, a discussion titled "Toward the Construction of a Drug Discovery Ecosystem in the Field of Infectious Diseases" was held as a special session by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) with experts from the industry, academia, and government. What was emphasized in this session was the importance of the respective efforts of industry, academia, and government to make "preparedness in normal times" and "instantaneous response in emergency situations" function.
During the past year, various efforts have been made, particularly in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Japan, which have passed through the stages of application for approval and obtaining approval, and have even reached practical application. While rapid commercialization is of course important, it is also extremely valuable that the research on various developments and modalities that have not been approved has progressed, thereby increasing our ability to draw from the knowledge we can gain in the future. How do we compile and nurture these findings in the future? I believe that national leadership is also important in this regard.
The positioning of each player in the drug discovery ecosystem in the field of infectious diseases is basically the same as in other disease areas. However, with few academia and start-ups focusing on infectious diseases, I feel that it is important to "form a highly specialized community" in order to prepare for the future of infectious diseases. It is necessary to accumulate various technologies and information within the community, and to have a perspective on how it can be demonstrated in times of emergency.
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
Chairman Hiroaki Ueno
Scientific foresight" and "economic foresight" are indispensable when considering future drug discovery in the field of infectious diseases. When and where will a pandemic occur (scientific predictability)? What kind of business will result from drug discovery (economic foresight)? And what kind of support can pharmaceutical companies provide? The ecosystem in the field of infectious diseases must be considered in light of these points.
For the ecosystem in the infectious disease field to function, it is necessary to take advantage of existing support mechanisms, such as venture capital support. In particular, the field of infectious diseases has a broad base, and it will be important to have a discerning ability to determine whether a drug can be put to practical use, not only from the perspective of drug discovery seeds, but also from the perspective of manufacturing. In addition, I believe that the formation of a community in which pharmaceutical companies are also involved will be important for the eventual practical application and delivery of the drug to the world.
In order to overcome the barriers of scientific and economic predictability, both push and pull type incentives are needed in terms of government support, and I hope that the government will consider strengthening its command post function.
In academia, human resource development is important. However, it should not be left to academia alone, but industry must also offer a wide range of career plans to students who have studied infectious diseases. In addition, venture capitalists must have the ability to recognize promising seeds and the ability to nurture them and promote development to bring them to practical use. In addition, pharmaceutical companies should always be aware of the need for support in practical application as part of their preparations for normal times.
The government should also provide a command post function in case of emergency, and expand push-type incentives and introduce pull-type incentives to enhance predictability. The company will build a drug discovery ecosystem in the field of infectious diseases by combining the efforts of industry, academia, and government.
(From the lecture at the 10th Nikkei-FT Conference on Infectious Diseases)
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Founded in 1968, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) is a voluntary association of R&D-oriented pharmaceutical companies that has contributed to global healthcare through the development of innovative new ethical drugs under the motto "Realization of Patient Participatory Medicine".
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) is engaged in a multifaceted program of activities to solve various problems common to the pharmaceutical industry, to deepen understanding of pharmaceuticals, and to promote international collaboration. In addition, we are committed to the sound development of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly by strengthening our policy formulation and advocacy activities, addressing internationalization, and reinforcing our public relations system.
Aiming to contribute to society through the development of new drugs Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association