Japan Launches ‘Safety Net’ Initiative As PMDA Looks To Resolve Drug Lag With The West (Part 1 of 2)

TOKYO - Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency has started a new pilot program for risk management, tentatively being called the "product management" initiative. Under the initiative, a group will be created within PMDA's Office of Safety to oversee a new drug throughout its life cycle. Initial plans called for only a handful of drugs being involved. The agency hopes to finish the pilot program within six months, in time for the initiative to be operational some time in the spring