The Office of Pharmaceutical Industry Research

Introduction

The foundation of the pharmaceutical industry's vision is "to create innovative new medicines and contribute to the extension of healthy life expectancy and Japan's economic growth". In 2025, "Drug Discovery" was identified as a priority investment target at the Japan Growth Strategy Conference.
The prime minister's remarks stated that "the pharmaceutical industry will be a key industry for Japan's future growth," and in 2025, "drug discovery" was identified as a priority investment target by the Japan Growth Strategy Council.
In the midst of major changes in the environment and social expectations, The Office of Pharmaceutical Industry Research(Policy Research Institute) will promote multifaceted surveys and research on the state of such industry and policy, with a highly predictive view of the surrounding issues and social needs, for the development of a "pharmaceutical industry that contributes to the health of people worldwide through the demonstration of innovation," and will conduct objective The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) aims to play a role in the establishment of evidence and the proposal and dissemination of innovative measures.

Basic Concept of Operation

  1. Based on JPMA's Vision for 2035 and JPMA's Policy Proposals for 2025, conduct surveys and research on the economic, social, scientific, technological, and related policy trends facing the pharmaceutical industry, as well as various environmental changes surrounding healthcare-related businesses, and make proposals and recommendations to stakeholders.
  2. The institute collects publicly available external data and information, as well as data and information related to the JPMA industry produced mainly by the Policy Research Institute, and updates, maintains, and manages its own databases, including the industry survey database for its member companies.
  3. Surveys and research will be conducted by establishing projects led by researchers. In addition, we will collaborate with domestic and foreign researchers, experts, and research institutions to provide evidence-based, objective analysis and recommendations.
  4. The results of surveys and research will be compiled into publications such as "position papers" and "research papers" (as needed) and " OPIR Views and Actions" (scheduled to be published three times a year), and will be announced externally through websites and other means, and disseminated through forums and other events. In addition, depending on the theme, the JPMA will hold educational activities and opportunities to exchange opinions both inside and outside the JPMA. The quality of the results will be improved based on critiques of these publications. The results will be reported to the JPMA executives in March at the annual report meeting of the Policy Research Institute.

Operational Structure and Major Themes for FY2026

1. research team

1) Drug Discovery Environment Team

  1. Understanding the actual status of Japan's ability to create new drugs

    To understand the actual status of new drug creation capability through the analysis of the WRA Top 100 by Japanese product ratio, analysis by modality, analysis of collaboration, analysis of unmet medical needs and new drug development status, and continuous tabulation and analysis of approved products and review periods in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, etc., which have been conducted by the NIHS on a fixed-point observation basis.

  2. Research on the development and enhancement of the drug discovery environment

    Research on the maintenance and enhancement of Japan's drug discovery environment will be conducted, focusing on current issues, including themes such as the maintenance and enhancement of drug discovery capabilities, such as the environment for co-creation of new drugs, which has been the subject of ongoing research at the Policy Research Institute.
    Through the above research, JPMA will also identify issues related to the creation of a drug discovery ecosystem and disseminate necessary information in cooperation with related stakeholders.

2) Medical DX Team

  1. Evaluation of the Japanese healthcare data utilization system and study of its direction

    The content of Japan's systems for utilizing health and medical data, including the "Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act" and "Revision of Medical Service Act (Promotion of Medical DX)," will be evaluated, and the actual status of utilization, including AI utilization, will be ascertained and the direction of utilization will be studied.
    In addition, we will make international comparisons by understanding similar systems and the actual status of utilization in other countries, point out areas for improvement in Japan's system, and examine the direction of international data utilization.

  2. Examination of individual issues related to the promotion of the utilization of health and medical data in the pharmaceutical industry

    From the viewpoint of promoting the utilization of health and medical data in the pharmaceutical industry, the committee will analyze use cases including the use of AI, study individual issues such as information distribution, standardization, personal information protection, and public literacy, and disseminate necessary information in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

3) Drug Value Team

  1. Research on the ideal NHI drug price system, etc., in which the value of pharmaceutical products is appropriately evaluated

    Through research on the significance and actual conditions of various systems, such as drug price systems in other countries, price construction mechanisms in medical technology evaluation and cost-effectiveness evaluation systems, and patient participation in drug discovery, we will grasp and evaluate trends in the Japanese drug market and the actual conditions related to the drug price system. Depending on the results of our research, we will disseminate necessary information in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

  2. Research on the ideal pharmaceutical affairs system to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of pharmaceuticals and to maintain and improve the public health

    The pharmaceutical affairs system is a mechanism to protect the safety and health of the public, and along with the approval system, manufacturing control, and distribution regulations, the information provision system also plays an important role. In the overall pharmaceutical system throughout the lifecycle of a drug, we will clarify the characteristics and issues of the regulatory structure of the Japanese pharmaceutical system in light of the systems of other countries and the information environment of the digital age, and examine the direction of future system design. Depending on the results of the research, necessary information will be disseminated in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

2. Data Office

JPMA will conduct research and analytical activities that contribute to the promotion of various activities of JPMA and provide effective data to improve understanding of the industry. To this end, the JPMA and related stakeholders will constantly update the data in the industry survey database and DATABOOK, and promote their use.

1) Research work

  1. Development of various fixed-point data

    Develop and publish basic data on the pharmaceutical industry in general, including updating and releasing on the web an industry survey database and DATA BOOK based on activity overview surveys and various statistics, a survey of R&D taxation performance, and the construction of an index on the economic contribution of the pharmaceutical industry.

  2. Enhancement of information dissemination function through collaboration with academia, etc.

    Collaborate with academia and related stakeholders to disseminate and promote the use of evidence and other materials generated by the Policy Research Institute.

2) Support for JPMA activities centered on each committee

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