CPhI Japan returned to Tokyo for its 16th edition on April 19–21st, 2017 with the release of new research into the Japanese pharmaceutical market.
More than 90 domestic and international companies attending the event were surveyed to provide a holistic picture of the country’s best growth opportunities.
Overall, domestic companies in Japan are forecasting a staggering 17% growth in 2017 – highlighting renewed buoyancy in the Japanese pharmaceutical economy following several years of limited growth.
A sector-by-sector analysis showed that 56% of companies believed that biologics and biosimilars showed the offered for the fastest growth during the next year.
Companies reported that the most popular biopharmaceutical product classes under development are anticancer and enhanced immune class drugs – including cutting edge technologies such as checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Rutger Oudejans, Brand Director at CPhI for Asia and North America, said: “The ever rising demand for anticancer drugs and high margins combined with Japan’s robust reimbursement system for patented drugs make it an attractive market for companies to invest in and develop new drugs.”
Japan in general
Japan has the world’s third largest pharma industry and traditionally its domestic market has thrived. Consequently, only 18% of business for Japanese pharma companies is undertaken in international markets.
However, the research highlights that more than two thirds of the companies surveyed are now looking to target international markets over the next year.
Half of these companies are targeting the US, 27% are focusing on China and Korea but with few looking to Europe.
This may be due to the favourable reimbursement systems within the US, while cultural ties to neighbouring high growth economies also provide opportunities.
The Japanese Government has committed to increase the market penetration of generics and 28% of those surveyed stated that the “greatest potential for growth lies with finished dose generic drugs”.
A majority of Japanese pharma companies believe that domestic manufacturers will meet the country’s generic pharmaceutical demands. However, they acknowledge that there is also a role for international manufacturers; a quarter agree that there are large opportunities for Indian generic manufacturers in particular.
Nearly 80% of Japanese companies are reviewing their “strategic approach due to the impending patent cliff” with 77% saying they would predict “increased partnerships between Japanese pharma and generic companies”.
The success of the Takeda-Teva collaboration has provided a model that companies can replicate when looking for potential future partnerships.
