Japanese Pharma Respond To Need For Drugs For Rare Diseases

Japanese drug manufacturers and local units of foreign companies are responding to a growing demand for drugs for treating uncommon diseases, meaning sales are likely to be relatively small. As an example, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Pfizer Japan and Shionogi are among Japanese drug manufacturers that have applied to the Ministry of Health for approval of drugs to treat pediatric hypertension, a problem of less than 1% of the nation’s children. Daiichi Sankyo also plans to seek approval for a drug to treat tuberculosis resistant to many drugs, even though that disease affects only 100 patients a year in Japan. Similarly, Eisai and Takeda Pharmaceutical are producing orphan drugs. (Click here for more a subscription may be required

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