The Pharmaceutical Market: Japan

Summary

This In-Depth Pharmaceutical Market Reports Are Ideal For Executives Wanting To Understand The Key Drivers In Pharmaceutical Markets And Have Access To A Wealth Of Statistical Data. Each Report Opens With An Outlook Section That Provides Analysis Of The Market, 5-Year Market Forecasts, National Data Projections, Market Outlook And Key Developments Such As Regulation, Pricing/Reimbursement, Intellectual Property, Health Facilities And Government Policy. The Report Also Provides Extensive Background Information, Population Trends, Health Status, Health Expenditure, Organisation & Administration, Hospital Services, Medical Personnel, Healthcare Development, Market Access Information, Trade Data For Raw Materials And Finished Products And Essential Industry Contacts. Included With The Report Are 3 Free Quarterly Updated Outlook Reports, Enabling You To Keep Up To Date With Market Developments For A Year.

Japan Has Some Of The Best Healthcare Statistics In The World, Including The Lowest Infant Mortality Rates And Highest Life Expectancies. A Rapidly Ageing Population Has Burdened The Healthcare System Both In Terms Of Funding And Facilities And Is Of Great Concern For The Japanese Government.

Despite Its Prolonged Economic Troubles In Recent Years, Japan Remains The World's Second Largest Pharmaceutical Market, After The Usa. It Also Remains One Of The Less Penetrable. A Strong And Highly Advanced Domestic Manufacturing Industry, An Opaque Regulatory System And Extensive Cultural Differences Make The Japanese Market A Difficult And Long-Term Prospect. There Have However Been Recent Signs That Japan Is Attempting To Improve The Drug Approval Process And Move More Into Line With Western Countries Regarding Regulatory Laws. Significant Cuts In Government Reimbursement Levels In Recent Years Have Affected The Market For Pharmaceuticals, Already Depressed By The Country's Faltering Economy, While Recent Court Judgements Have Weakened The Country's Intellectual Property Laws. The Overall Costs Of Healthcare Threatened To Bankrupt The Health Insurance System In 2002, And Have Led To A Greater Focus On Price Cuts As A Politically Easier Alternative To Widespread Reform Of The Healthcare System, And These Have Been Introduced By The Ministry Of Health, Labour And Welfare (Mhlw), In The Face Of Staunch Opposition By Drug Manufacturers.

Increases In Health Insurance Payments From Workers And The Gradual Eradication Of Over-Prescribing By Doctors Through Effective Legislation And The Promotion Of Cheaper Generic Products All Provide The Government With The Potential For Easing The Healthcare Expenditure Burden. This Is In Spite Of The Disquiet Of Domestic Pharmaceutical Firms And To The Detriment Of Market Growth.

The Pharmaceuticals And Medical Devices Agency (Pmda) Was Created In 2004, In An Attempt To Improve Drug Approval Times And Bring Them More In To Line With Their Us And European Counterparts. The Market Is Therefore Increasingly Open To Overseas Products, And Many Domestic Companies Are Being Forced Into Measures Such As Mergers And The Expansion Of R&D Facilities In A Bid To Ensure Survival In The Marketplace. Not One Domestic Producer Is Featured In The Top Ten Global Pharmaceutical Manufacturers. In A Bid To Perform More Competitively On The World Stage, Some Of The Biggest Japanese Companies Have Merged, Including Yamanouchi And Fujisawa (Now Astellas Pharma), Dainippon Sumitomo And Sankyo Daiichi. Mitsubishi Pharma And Tanabe Seiyaku Look Set To Merge In October 2007.

Plans To Introduce The Almost Compulsory Prescription Of Generics In 2008, If Approved, Will Not Be Well Received By Manufacturers Of Original Drugs, And This Is Expected To Further Slow Market Growth Rates In The Medium Term.

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