CPhI Japan 2018 expects increased numbers of generic API companies and suppliers say organisers

Event organisers, UBM, have reported that next month’s CPhI Japan 2018 will play host to an increased number of international generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) companies and suppliers.

As was uncovered in the CPhI Japan 2018 report, released earlier in the year, the country’s economy is becoming welcoming for generics and overseas manufacturers — particularly those that can combine exemplary regulatory records with competitive prices. To respond to this trend, this year’s event is opening a finished dosage formulation zone (FDF).

A total of 21,000 executives from 56 countries are expected to attend the event, highlighting the country’s growing internationalisation, with 550 exhibitors from 30 countries — an increase of nearly 100 exhibitors in just two years. Around 200 seminars will take place across the event.

Beyond the exhibition, over 9,000 pharma professionals are predicted to attend the conference, with insights from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, the Japanese Society of Generic and Biosimilar Medicines, and the Japan Pharmaceutical Traders’ Association.

A further development for those entering the Japanese market is that of the 2018 ‘Pricing system reform and introduction of cost-effectiveness assessment’. At this year’s conference there will be a keynote address to look at this in more detail. For buyers, however, access to international partners will be vital to establishing a robust supply chain, as such the event is hosting an ‘International API Procurement Forum’ — specifically designed to empower the government’s requirement for 80% generic market penetration by 2020.

“By bridging foreign manufacturers to local distributors successfully, we are able to create new investments and growth for our organisation,” said Cristine Fernandez, RPh regulatory affairs consultant, Regicon.

External to the solid dose drugs, biologics are making waves in the region — specifically for antibodies, protein based drugs and vaccines. This in addition to the Japanese government’s investments in industrial bio cluster projects and the creation of support programmes for bio ventures and universities has led to the growth of BioPh.

“CPhI Japan is an accurate bellwether of the wider market trends in the country, and this year we are seeing an acceleration of interest in generics and biologicals, particularly biosimilars — which the market has been previously resilient towards. But there is also more generally increased international interest and investment in all product classes — including innovative medicine — thanks to deregulation and streamlined new drug approval processes,” added Laura Murina, brand manager, CPhI Japan at UBM.

The event takes place at the Big Sight Exhibition Centre, Tokyo, Japan 18-20 April 2018.