Japan's "New Vision" slammed by Pharma

A draft document from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for its New Vision of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Marketletter August 6) has been criticized by leading pharmaceutical industry organizations, which say there are few numerical indices in the goals for enhancing the international competitiveness of the nation's drugmakers, said Kiyoshi Morita, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan. In addition, he pointed out that it is important for the government to properly evaluate whether the previous Vision 2002 has generated any innovation.

Masuhiro Kato, vice president of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations Japan and president of AstraZeneca Japan, wanted the MHLW to give a clear idea of how the government would strike a balance between the drug cost allowing for high-quality health care and promotion of innovativeness and the nation's budget, indicating the goal of medical costs in the near future in the new vision. In addition, he said that it is unclear how the government will evaluate the innovation in the vision. He also pointed out that, although it is necessary to take a borderless stance from basic research, discovery of drug candidates, clinical trials, to reviews/ approvals and commercialization in order to compete internationally, the Vision lacks such a stance.