ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Economy

Japan to cut price of infamously expensive cancer drug again

Government, which already halved Opdivo price, seeks more cost relief

Opdivo has been increasingly popular among cancer patients since its release in 2014 in Japan.

TOKYO -- A cancer drug widely seen as a symbol of exorbitant health care costs is about to get cheaper in Japan, when the health ministry updates government-administered prescription drug prices for next fiscal year.

The price of the drug Opdivo -- which was initially 730,000 yen ($6,429) for a 100mg bottle -- was already halved this past February. But the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare intends to create a new mechanism for reviewing official prices of drugs when positive results lead to higher dosages.   

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more