Japan Passes New Economic Security Bill – What's The Pharma Impact?

Japan is cutting more drug reimbursement prices following cost effectiveness analysis and is applying the methodology to a new group of products including Wegovy and Leqembi.

Japan's NHI program continues to give and take as 11 new drugs are granted reimbursement, while the prices of others - including three ophthalmic therapies - are cut by up to 20% under a Market Expansion Repricing scheme.

Japan's trade ministry is providing new support to build domestic capacity for new modalities including cell and gene therapies, as part of wider efforts to support the national bioventure ecosystem.

Artesunate for malaria, TB drug pretomanid and omadacycline for pneumonia and skin infections are among the drugs identified by Japanese regulatory authorities in urgent need of domestic development.