Pharmaceutical Pricing and Distribution in Japan Incorporates All Pricing Rule Changes That Came into Effect from April 2008

Business Wire, June 18, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b2dd9e/pharmaceutical_pri) has announced the addition of the "Pharmaceutical Pricing and Distribution in Japan: The keys to success in the world's second largest market" report to their offering.

No serious multinational can afford to ignore Japan, but it remains a tough and highly competitive market to crack, with the environment for developing and marketing medicines dominated by price. Virtually no new prescription brand can be introduced without a yakka (reimbursement price) set by the government. Innovative new drugs receive price premiums while others are capped at the price of older entrants. Discounting to the trade is inescapable, but is punished by downward price revisions on a scale and frequency unseen elsewhere. Big selling brands and now others in the same class are subject to special price cuts. Distribution is inherently linked to the pricing process and is particularly opaque to outsiders.

Whether the challenge is entering the Japanese market for the first time, moving up the all-important ranking there by market share, or negotiating with a local in-licensing partner, this report is designed to help.

- New drug pricing and price revision processes explained

- Written by an acknowledged expert on the Japanese market with 20 years' experience

- Fully researched through field interviews conducted in Tokyo and Osaka with industry leaders, government officials and others during March 2008

- Incorporates all pricing rule changes that came into effect from April 2008

- Pro-generic measures critically appraised

- Key role of wholesalers and how they are paid clarified

- Prospects for future reform to the P&R processes discussed

Key Topics Covered:

1. Organisation & Funding of Healthcare System

2. Regulatory Environment

3. Pharmaceutical Business Environment

4. Launch Price Setting

5. Price Revision Process

6. Other Cost Containment Methods

7. Other Market Segments

8. Distribution

9. Future Prospects

List of tables

List of figures

Companies Mentioned:

Astellas

AstraZeneca

Banyu

Bayer-Schering

Boehringer Ingelheim

BMS

Chugai

Daiichi-Sankyo

Dainippon Sumitomo

Eisai

GSK

Hisamitsu

Hospira

Janssen

Kyowa

Hakko Kirin

Meiji Seika

Mitsubishi-Tanabe

Mylan

Nichi-Iko

Novartis

Ono

Otsuka

Pfizer

Roche

Sanofi-Aventis

Sandoz

Sato

Sawai

Servier

Shionogi

SolvaySuntory

SSP

Taiho

Taisho

Taiyo Yakuhin

Takeda

Teva

Towa

Yakult Honsha

Yoshitomi

Zeria

Products covered

Abilify

Aldurazyme

Amlodin

Aricept

Avastin

Blopress

Campto

Clarith

Claritin

Coversyl

Crestor

Depromel

Diovan

Doral

Enbrel

Epogin

Evista

Exjade

Fabrazyme

Farom

Funguard

Gaster

Glivec

Harnal

Iressa

J-Zoloft

Lantus

Leuplin

Lipitor

Luvox

Maxalt

Mevalotin

Micardis

Mohrus Tape

Myozyme

Naglazyme

Nexavar

Nicotinell TTS

Norvasc

Nu-Lotan

Olmetec

Omepral

Pariet

Paxil

Pegasys

Preminent

Prograf

Radicut

Relenza

Remicade

Renivace

Revatio

Risperdal

Somavert

Sutent

Takepron

Taxol

Topotecin

Tracleer

Valtrex

Vesicare

Viagra

Zetia

Zoloft

Zovirax.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b2dd9e/pharmaceutical_pri