Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4502) recently announced a new clinical development approach in Japan that it will run in partnership with PRA Health Sciences Inc., a U.S.-based contract research organization (CRO). Under the deal, Takeda Pharmaceutical will transfer the clinical testing and safety information operations it conducts in Japan to a joint venture with PRA....
pharmaceuticals
Fushimi Pharmaceutical Develops Easy Method for Sugar Chain Bonding
Fushimi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has developed a simple reaction by which chemical compounds with low and high molecular weights can be bonded to sugar chains. Until now, a simple, easy method for chemical synthesis of glycoproteins and glycopeptides has been lacking. The Kagawa Prefecture-based Fushimi Pharmaceutical expects to find applications for its technique in the...
Japan’s Agriculture Ministry to Create New Industry Using Transgenic Silkworms
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is launching a five-year project starting in fiscal 2017 to create new industries through sericulture innovation. The project’s aim is to harness the silk-production capabilities of genetically modified silkworms to provide competitive advantages in fields such as new silk materials, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. MAFF is calling on...
Mitsui Chemicals Moves Into In Vitro Diagnostic Pharmaceuticals
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) is entering the business of in vitro pharmaceuticals with plans to launch a research exam kit in March 2017 that can identify in three-to-five hours the bacteria causing severe systemic blood poisoning. Mitsui Chemicals will also conduct clinical trials with the goal of applying in fiscal 2018 to the Ministry of...
Nagase to Distribute Nucleic Acid Drugs Globally
Nagase & Co. Ltd. (TYO:8012) announced on Jan. 24 that it will enter the nucleic acid pharmaceuticals business after signing an exclusive distribution contract with Shikoku Kakusan Kagaku, a manufacturer and seller of nucleic acid products based in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. The Nagase Group will leverage its sales network to sell the nucleic acid products...
PhoenixBio to Supply Human Liver Cell-Bearing Mice to Overseas Drug Firms
PhoenixBio Co. Ltd. (TYO:6190) has begun U.S. marketing of experimental PXB mice with human liver cells. Many large pharmaceuticals manufacturers are conducting experiments on PXB mice at in-house research facilities after having taken advantage of outsourced experiment contractors up to now. Pharmaceutical giants are therefore making arrangements to have PXB mice supplied to them. They...
Fujifilm Partners with Major Russian Pharmaceutical Firm
Fujifilm Holdings Corp. (TYO:4901) announced on Dec. 16 that it has agreed with Russian pharmaceuticals manufacturer R-Pharm to enter into a comprehensive business partnership. Established in 2001, Moscow-based R-Pharm operates across approximately 60 locations in Russia, generating sales of 77.6 billion rubles ($1.24 billion) in 2015. The company works together with Western pharmaceuticals firms on...
Pharmaceutical Industry Feels Deep Impact With 2016 Drug Pricing Reform
An aspect with huge impact from the 2016 drug pricing system reform has been the provision for exceptional reprising. Implemented in April, the newly adopted system provides for price reductions of up to 25 percent on drugs that exceed sales projections by 50 percent or more and generate annual sales above 100 billion yen ($847.46...
Biotech is Key to Future Drug Development, Says Chugai Pharmaceutical CEO
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4519) is taking on new challenges in the realm of biotech-based drug development. The Chemical Daily had a chance to interview Chugai Pharmaceutical President and CEO Osamu Nagayama in Singapore recently about the world business environment surrounding biotech-based pharmaceuticals. Nagayama began by saying that antibody development for antigens has been stagnating,...
Junsei Chemical Embarks on Manufacturing of Active Ingredients for Generic Pharmaceuticals
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd. has entered the market for active ingredients used in generic pharmaceuticals, having begun producing multiple active ingredients at a newly built facility at the firm’s main factory property in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki Prefecture. The company has completed the application for the registration, and the expectation is that it will begin distribution next...
Rion Targets Regenerative Medicine Facilities for Particle Counter Sales
Particle counter manufacturer Rion Co. Ltd. (TYO:6823) is taking aggressive moves in the market for environmental monitoring of regenerative medicine facilities. This is in response to the expansion of the market, which has brought with it more emphasis on managing airborne particles in the facilities’ clean rooms. Based in Kokubunji, Greater Tokyo, Rion is the...
Japan Works to Perfect Domestic Biopharma Manufacturing Capabilities
European and U.S. corporations now have an exclusive hold on the manufacturing technologies used in the advanced field of pharmaceuticals that are antibody drugs. Japan, which has virtually no technological infrastructure in this arena, relies on the services and products of overseas firms. To remedy this reliance, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)...
Central Social Insurance Medical Council Accepts Special Measures for Costly Drugs
In its general meeting on July 27, the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) accepted special countermeasures proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for costly medicines. The aim is to put an upper limit on the country’s medical expenses. Although the market is expanding greatly due to additional indications, mid-term price recalculation...
