JPMA panel set up for unapproved drugs

The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has established a project team to help resolve the problems with unapproved drugs and  off-label use in an attempt to eliminate the so-called "drug-lag."

This applies to "the drug price special maintenance system," in which  the National Health Insurance price of new medicines should be  maintained during a patent's validity, as proposed by the Federation of  Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Associations of Japan, is introduced. Some  members of the Chuikyo (the Central Social Insurance Medical Council)  have said the pharmaceutical industry should make an effort to  eliminate the drug-lag if it wants to introduce the system  (Marketletters passim).