—Making Drug Discovery and Biotechnology Japan’s Engine of Growth—
Following the Release of the “Working Group Roadmap of the Japan Growth Strategy Council”
June 24, 2026
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
Chairperson Asuka Miyabashira
The Japan Growth Strategy Council has recently released a public-private investment roadmap covering 17 strategic sectors.As Chairperson of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (hereinafter “JPMA”), I would like to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this Council on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry and to share our views. I would also like to express my sincere respect to the officials of the relevant ministries and agencies who worked diligently to compile this roadmap.
Through its two working groups—“Drug Discovery and Advanced Medical Care” and “Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology”—the JPMA has consistently advocated for strengthening drug discovery capabilities, fortifying the domestic manufacturing infrastructure that underpins health security, and fostering talent, as well as the need to enhance the attractiveness of the Japanese market.
Toward a Core Industry Supporting Japan’s Growth
It is of immense significance that these roadmaps clearly position the pharmaceutical industry as a strategic investment sector supporting Japan’s growth and outline the nation’s medium- to long-term growth objectives.
This demonstrates the importance of an industry that delivers innovative pharmaceuticals to patients both domestically and internationally, and we believe it will lead to enhancing the appeal of the Japanese market and attracting investment.
Two Key Directions for Policy Implementation
Specifically, regarding the roadmap in question, our association highly values the following two points as extremely important directions for the future implementation of policies:
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Growth on a Global Scale and Enhancing the Attractiveness of the Japanese Market (From the Perspective of Growth Investment)
It is extremely important that the roadmap sets a goal for Japan’s branded-drug market to achieve a level of growth on par with global trends. We believe this will attract investment from both domestic and international sources, enhance the appeal of the Japanese market, and serve as the foundation for Japan to continue being chosen as a hub for drug discovery.
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Strengthening the Domestic Supply System to Protect Citizens’ Lives (From the Perspective of Crisis Management Investment)
The importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply systems for products used in response to infectious diseases, as well as biopharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine products, has been highlighted. Amid rising geopolitical risks, we recognize that ensuring a stable supply of pharmaceuticals is a critical national issue that must be addressed as a priority.
Investment and Challenges for the Future
Based on this roadmap, the JPMA will contribute to the implementation of specific policies and the promotion of public-private partnerships. Furthermore, to ensure the sustainable delivery of innovative pharmaceuticals to patients in Japan and around the world, we will continue to make proactive investments and take on new challenges from both the “innovation” and “supply” perspectives.
We also expect the government to steadily implement the “policy package to be adopted” outlined in this roadmap, and we strongly hope that continuous and effective dialogue and deliberation will take place through forums such as public-private councils regarding challenges that arise in response to domestic and international conditions.