From JPMA Toward Continuing Discussions on Strengthening Drug Discovery
In late August 2024, while this article was being written, news came in that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not run for the next LDP presidential election. Looking back on the Kishida administration, starting with the post-Corona initiatives, the need to strengthen drug discovery capabilities was recognized and measures were put in place at the "Expert Panel on Comprehensive Measures to Achieve a Rapid and Stable Supply of Pharmaceuticals," which was held from 2022 to 2023. In addition, a major step was taken in the NHI drug price system toward the introduction of innovative drugs. I believe that it has been three years since we faced various issues and pursued measures to address them.
From the end of 2023 to 2024, the "Conceptual Council for Prompt Delivery of the Latest Medicines to the Public through Enhanced Drug Discovery" and the "Drug Discovery Ecosystem Summit" were held to discuss the enhancement of drug discovery capabilities and to receive the interim report of the council. At the Summit, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "Today, I declare the government's commitment to strengthen drug discovery capabilities to make Japan a land of drug discovery that can contribute to the health of people around the world. The pharmaceutical industry is an important industry that can take advantage of Japan's scientific and technological capabilities and is a key industry that will play a key role in Japan's growth.
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
Chairman Hiroaki Ueno
The creation of a new drug requires a long period of time and a large amount of investment. In addition, the difficulty of creating new drugs is increasing due to the diversification of drug discovery methods, rising costs, and other factors. In response, the pharmaceutical industry has been working to establish new industry-academia consortiums, introduce the knowledge and experience of corporate researchers into academic research, and develop human resources. Under these circumstances, the support of the government is very encouraging, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), as a representative of the industry, will be actively involved in the process from policy planning to implementation.
In order to ensure the continuous creation of new drugs, it is essential to have a system whereby innovative new drugs are evaluated according to their value and used as a source of funds for the next drug discovery. However, we are still required to verify the effects of the reform in terms of eliminating the drug lag/loss and stimulating new drug development in Japan. Furthermore, the industry as a whole will address the issue of whether or not to implement the mid-year NHI price revision in 2025.
Although the implementation of specific measures to strengthen drug discovery will be handed over to the next administration, we will continue to emphasize the necessity of continuing the discussion on strengthening drug discovery so that the fire lit during the Kishida administration will not be extinguished.
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
Since its establishment in 1968, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), a voluntary association of R&D-oriented pharmaceutical companies, has continued to contribute to global healthcare through the development of innovative new ethical drugs under the motto of "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 particular, it is working for the sound development of the pharmaceutical industry by strengthening its policy formulation and advocacy activities, addressing internationalization, and reinforcing its public relations system.
Aiming to contribute to society through the development of new drugs Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)