Policy confusion is keeping innovative drugs out of Japan

Efforts to cut costs are overriding incentives to bring new medicines to market

Avatar
20230707 Japan Pharmacy

A Sugi Pharmacy branch in Nagoya: Japan is the third-largest pharmaceutical market in the world. © Jiji

Kurt Tong is managing partner at global strategic advisory firm The Asia Group. He previously served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and in other senior diplomatic roles.

A number of innovative pharmaceutical companies seeking to bring specialized medicines and rare treatments to Japan are facing a Catch-22 situation, caught between contradictory policies created to respond to competing goals that coexist within Tokyo's bureaucracy.

Sponsored Content

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