Health Care News Letter Fall／Trends Watch Notes and News Clippings
1. Drugs Medicine
2. Medical Devices
3. Cosmetics
4. Health Foods
5. Health Care Information Technology
6. Cure Services
1. Drugs Medicine
The Revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law to Take Effect, Effectively Changing the Way Drugs Are Marketed
The Revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law will take effect in April 2009, effectively changing the system for selling general drugs. For example, the revised law will bring about a major change by introducing the sales representative qualification & registration system. The previous Pharmaceutical Affairs Law required businesses selling drugs to appoint pharmacists and other expert professionals to engage in the selling process. Under the revised law, “Registered Sales Representatives” can also give advice as expert professionals, in addition to pharmacists, regarding general drugs such as key cold medicines and medicines for controlling intestinal function. To become a registered sales representative, one must pass the qualification examination administered by the prefecture and receive registration. As a result, it will become possible to sell drugs at locations other than pharmacies such as supermarkets and home centers, as long as registered sales representatives are assigned at the point of sale. This should also lower the barrier for pharmaceutical companies to break into the mass drug market. There are moves by mass merchants for consumer electronics and home appliances, convenience stores and other business establishments that have not been selling drugs to increase outlets carrying drugs, and the competition in the general pharmaceutical market is expected to intensify.
Sources: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/iyakuhin/ippanyou/index.html (Japanese Site)
www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/2005/bukyoku/iyaku/index.html#mokuji (Japanese Site)
Teva Pharmaceutical and Kowa Enter into a Strategic Partnership on Generic Drugs
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. the world’s largest generic drug manufacturer based in Israel, and Kowa Company, announced that they have reached an agreement to establish a new joint venture called “Teva-Kowa Pharma Co., Ltd.” to be owned equally by the two companies, and that the Teva-Kowa would start operation in early 2009. The new company aims to generate approx. 100 billion yen in sales, or 10% of the generic drug market in Japan, by 2015.
Teva is the world’s number-one generic drug manufacturer headquartered in Israel, and is involved in the development, manufacture and sale of new drugs, generic drugs and drug making materials, as well as drugs for animals. More than 80% of Teva’s sales come from North America and Europe, and this latest strategic partnership will give the company a foothold toward full-scale entry into the Japanese market.
On the other hand, Kowa has been driving the globalization of its business, mainly with its high cholesterol drug “Livalo.” With the addition of generic drugs to its product lineup, Kowa is hopeful that it will be able to build a strong management foundation by diversifying the company’s drug business to cover treatment drugs, OTC drugs and generic drugs.
Source: Kowa Company
www.kowa.co.jp/g/pdf/press080924.pdf (Japanese Site)
Shionogi & Co. Acquires Sciele Pharma
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. announced that it was acquiring Sciele Pharma, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed medium-sized pharmaceutical company, for a total price of US$1.424 billion to make Sciele a fully owned subsidiary. Shionogi is expanding its product lines to include candidate substances that are expected to lead to development of clinical drugs on a global scale. Now that Shionogi was ready to develop clinical drugs overseas through its consolidated U.S. subsidiary Shionogi USA, Inc., the company has been working to establish a sales structure in the U.S. as soon as possible. With this acquisition, Shionogi will likely improve/reinforce the sales structure in the U.S. to increase its presence in the country, thereby providing a stronger foundation on which to achieve long-term growth in the future. While maintaining existing business activities, Shionogi USA will also actively drive drug development overseas to expand its own lines of drugs.
Source: Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
www.shionogi.co.jp/ir/news/detail/080901.pdf (Japanese Site)
Number-one and Number-two Drug Wholesalers Mediceo Paltac and Alfresa to Merge
Mediceo Paltac Holdings Co., Ltd., the largest drug wholesaler in Japan, and Alfresa Holdings Corporation, number two in the country, announced that they had agreed to merge. The merger is scheduled to complete by April 1 of 2009. The main products of the companies include drugs for medical use, general drugs, medical devices, items of daily use, cosmetics and toiletry goods. The merged company will become a giant wholesaler generating more than 4 trillion yen in total sales. The new company will increase its sales force by taking advantage of the expanded size, and also implement various measures such as optimizing logistics through relocation of logistics hubs and offices, and putting in place a traceability control system. Mediceo Paltac will become the surviving company, and the new company will likely be called “Alfresa MediPal Holdings Corp."
Source: Mediceo Paltac Holdings Co., Ltd.
www.mediceo-paltac.co.jp/news/pdf/2008/081010.pdf (Japanese Site)
Boehringer Ingelheim and Evec Sign a License Agreement on Development and Commercialization of Fully Human Antibody
Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and Evec, Inc., a bio-venture spun off by Hokkaido University, signed a license agreement pertaining to a program regarding the fully human antibody for treatment use developed by Evec. Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire exclusive rights to develop and sell the antibody under the program around the world. This is the first license agreement Evec has signed with a large, international pharmaceutical company. This agreement will help Evec draw attention as a pioneer bio-venture in Japan, while further driving the R&D activities of Japanese bio-venture companies at large. Evec has already received 55 million euros (approx. 8.8 billion yen) as a deposit as well as the first of a series of milestone payments which will be disbursed according to the development stages, from Boehringer Ingelheim. Once the sale of the antibody starts, Evec will also receive royalties based on a percentage of actual sales.
Source: Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co.
www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.jp/news/p-release/08_1002.html (Japanese Site)
2. Medical Devices
Fashion Color Contact Lenses to Be Regulated as “Medical Devices”
After a series of incidents involving non-prescription color contact lenses used for fashion, where users reported corneal ulcer and other heath damages that could lead to loss of sight as well as other problems caused by wrong use or defective lenses, the special Work Group of the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council attached to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare decided on August 22 that color contact lenses should be classified as “medical devices” under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Color contact lenses were treated as “miscellaneous goods” not used for the purpose of correcting vision, but insufficient explanation of usage, excessively long hours of wearing, unstable product quality and other problems came to light. For the purpose of providing appropriate information and products offering consistent quality, the Work Group realized a need to regulate color contact lenses in the same way prescription contact lenses are regulated. Based on the decision, the relevant Government Ordinance pertaining to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law will be revised to require a doctor’s prescription to purchase color contact lenses.
Sources: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
www.mhlw.go.jp/wp/seisaku/ria/20/dl/10.pdf (Japanese Site)
Olympus Medical Systems Signs an Exclusive Sales Agreement in Japan for Spiration’s Pulmonary Emphysema Treatment Device
Olympus Medical Systems Corp. announced that it had signed an agreement with Spiration, Inc. on July 16, 2008 to allow Olympus to sell exclusively in Japan the “IBV® Valve System” device developed by Spiration to treat pulmonary emphysema and pneumothorax under bronchoscopy, and that Olympus would start selling the device in Japan as soon as an approval on manufacture and sale is obtained. Olympus had already signed an exclusive sales agreement with Spiration regarding this system in Europe in May 2008, and is planning to start exclusive sale of the device in the region in the fall of 2008. The “IBV® Valve System” was developed as a minimally invasive treatment device for use under bronchoscopy. The device is used to treat cases of pulmonary emphysema where drugs are not effective or the lung reduction procedure or lung transplant procedure is not an option, as well as to treat pneumothorax and continuous air leaks that occur after pulmonary surgery.
Source: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
www.olympus.co.jp/jp/news/2008b/nr080724spirationj.cfm (Japanese Site)
Tsumura Lifescience Discovers a Hair Growth Promoting Composition in Dandelion Roots
Tsumura Lifescience Co., Ltd. announced that it had confirmed the utility as a “hair growth promoter” of a newly discovered composition contained in dandelion roots. The galenical preparation “Teraxacum mongolicum” exhibits a “HGF (hepatic growth factor) production promoting action” which is considered effective in promoting hair growth. Tsumura discovered this composition as part of its ongoing research efforts to verify the hair growth benefits and efficacies of potential hair growth agents, which the company has been doing by incorporating the concept of oriental medicine into the development of hair growth formula.
Teraxacum mongolicum extract has already been approved as a new additive for quasi-drugs, and Tsumura is considering commercializing and launching within one year a hair growth tonic containing Teraxacum mongolicum, which is generating strong hopes as a new galenical preparation to promote hair growth.
Source: Tsumura Lifescience Co., Ltd.
www.tsumura-ls.co.jp/news/2008/0917_hgf.htm (Japanese Site)
Market for Products to Fight Metabolic Syndrome Will Likely Grow to 1,660 Billion Yen in 2008, Up 18.7% from Previous Year
Market research firm Fuji-Keizai Co., Ltd. released the result of its new survey, shedding light on the market for products meeting the increasingly diverse weight loss needs, products offering calorie-control functions and other solutions and related services to fight metabolic syndrome. According to the report, total sales of food products including specified health foods, general drugs, restaurant menus/home-meal replacements and services designed to treat or prevent metabolic syndrome amounted to 1,400 billion yen in 2007, and the market is expected to grow by 18.7% over the 2007 level to reach 1,661.3 billion yen in 2008. The growth has been supported by steady growth of canned coffees, liquid coffees, tea drinks, milk drinks, sodas and other beverage products, rapid growth of alcohol drinks, and popularity of general drugs including anti-obesity drugs whose demand has expanded substantially after the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare appealed to citizens in 2006 to pay attention to metabolic syndrome. In addition to these factors, in 2008 family restaurants are expected to add new menus for diners conscious of metabolic syndrome, while fitness clubs and esthetic salons will also likely increase their exercise menus/treatment programs focusing on metabolic syndrome. These moves should lead to a significant growth of this segment in the restaurant and service markets.
Source: Fuji-Keizai Co., Ltd.
www.fuji-keizai.co.jp/market/08068.html (Japanese Site)
3. Cosmetics
Noevir and Pola Release Research Results on Beauty Benefits of Natural Substances – Plan to Introduce New Products
On September 17th, Noevir Co., Ltd. and Pola Inc. announced the results of their research, respectively, on beauty benefits of natural substances such as chrysanthemum and ginkgo. Noevir discovered that chamomile, a plant in the chrysanthemum family, has the effect of promoting the production of “glycosaminoglycan,” a composition associated with firmness and resilience of skin, and concluded that chamomile would be effective in producing supple, soft skin. Noevir will apply this finding to release a new product in the spring of 2009. Pola, on the other hand, discovered that chrysanthemum flower, which has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, has a detoxification action by increasing the production of glutathione in the body. It was confirmed that cells to which chrysanthemum extract was added exhibited approx. 2.5 times more glutathione, a detoxification substance produced in the human body.
Sources: Noevir Co., Ltd., Pola Inc.
www.noevir.co.jp/new/ir_info/per38/080917b.pdf (Japanese Site)
www.pola.co.jp/company/home/back/2008/20r061.pdf (Japanese Site)
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Enters the Men’s Cosmetics Market
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. introduced the body skin care brand “UL OS” based on the cosmetics concept of promoting the “health of skin” and launched three formulations and five products on September 9, including skin lotion, skin milk and skin cream, targeting middle-aged men. Men’s skin suffers a greater imbalance of oil and water contents with age, because the oil produced by men’s skin decreases much faster than the speed of reduction in the skin’s water content. In fact, many middle-aged men are suffering from “dry, rough skin” due to this imbalance. Otsuka realized a potential market here and developed the new products. This is a new field for Otsuka Pharmaceutical, which has never produced men’s cosmetics before. The market for men’s skin care products in Japan is still small at approx. 15 billion yen, or 1% of the total cosmetics market in the country, but it has been growing at an annual rate of approx. 25% over the past five years. Otsuka Pharmaceutical will aim at creating a new market, not only in Japan but also overseas, by promoting its “UL OS” line as the company’s new cosmetics brand.
www.otsuka.co.jp/company/release/2008/0903_01.html (Japanese site)
Source: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
www.otsuka.co.jp/company/release/2008/0903_01.html (Japanese Site)
Japan’s First – Large, Intelligent Vending Machines Selling Cosmetics
Guthy-Renker Japan Co., Ltd., which sells the acne care cosmetic line “Proactiv” through mail order, will introduce Japan’s first large, intelligent vending machines selling cosmetics at four locations in the Kanto area (to be increased to five by the end of the year), including “Urban Dock Lalaport Toyosu,” “Lalaport Kashiwanoha” and “Lalaport Yokohama” operated by Lalaport Management Co., Ltd., a Mitsui Fudosan Group company, and “Lazona Kawasaki” operated by Lazona Property Co., Ltd. Guthy-Renker’s cosmetics lines, a representative of which is “Proactiv,” have mainly been sold through direct sales routes including TV shopping channels. The U.S. headquarters of the company began selling products through vending machines in 2006 and have already installed approx. 200 machines across the U.S. Based on the positive feedbacks from U.S. consumers, Guthy-Renker has been exploring if the same approach would work in Japan where cash-less commerce is fast becoming the social norm. The company’s plan was finally realized with the introduction of vending machines to Lalaport facilities.
Source: Guthy-Renker Japan Co., Ltd.
www.guthy-renker.co.jp/release/NRR20080929.html (Japanese Site)
4. Health Foods
Fancl Discovers a Promising New Composition to Fight Metabolic Syndrome
Fancl Corporation announced that through a joint research with the Medical College of Georgia it has discovered “Germinated Rice Sterol Glycoside,” a composition expected to prevent/improve arteriosclerosis promoted by metabolic syndrome and diabetes, among the various compositions contained in germinated brown rice. In an experiment conducted at the Medical College of Georgia using diabetic rats, this composition was shown to enhance the activity of an anti-oxidative enzyme that breaks down homocysteine thiolactone, a substance that causes arteriosclerosis. Fancl will continue to study this germinated rice sterol glycoside derived from germinated brown rice. The company will also actively sell germinated rice, while driving research efforts toward developing supplements containing germinated rice sterol.
Source: Fancl Corporation
www.fancl.co.jp/corporate/news/data/2008.08.15hatsuga_kenkyu_against_metabo.pdf (Japanese Site)
5. Health Care Information Technology
FeliCa Pocket Marketing Introduces an Electronic Patient Information System Using FeliCa Pocket Cards
FeliCa Pocket Marketing Inc. introduced a medical service using an electronic patient information system based on FeliCa Pocket, a non-contact IC card solution. A medical institution decided to adopt this system in conjunction with an electronic medical chart system. This is the first attempt to use such a system in the medical community in Japan. The system will be introduced to Parkside Hiroo Ladies Clinic, A Soyukai Medical Corporation. The patient holds his or her registration card containing a FeliCa Pocket chip, and the patient’s electronic medical chart will be displayed automatically. This system allows the personal information of patients to be accessed quickly, accurately and securely, and also reduces the manpower need at the reception desk. Parkside Hiroo is also planning to introduce a cellular phone application for FeliCa, which will offer great convenience to users because patients need not to carry their registration card at all times. The system will provide wide-ranging benefits for medical institutions that operate it, such as effectively protecting the confidentiality of personal information, preventing medical errors such as accidentally swapping patient information, increasing the efficiency of reception desk operation, and eliminating the costs of issuing registration cards because there is no need to operate a registration card issuing machine or other dedicated system.
Source: FeliCa Pocket Marketing Inc.
www.felicapocketmk.co.jp/pdf/parkside.pdf (Japanese Site)
NTT DoCoMo and Omron Healthcare Develop a Wellness Platform Based on Cellular Phone
NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Omron Healthcare, Inc. developed a wellness platform based on the cellular phone, with the purpose of promoting health support services, such as providing guidance on improving lifestyle diseases such as metabolic syndrome as well as guidance on diets, exercise and nutrition. This platform takes vital data measured by the step counter, weight composition meter, blood pressure meter and other health measurement devices with wireless communication function developed by Omron Healthcare, and automatically collects the data using a cellular phone into a data base via the “Vital Data Collection Platform” gateway service developed by DoCoMo. Collected data can be transferred to organizations providing health guidance or health care companies over the Internet or through other IT infrastructure. Also, the user can automatically send his/her data to a cellular phone by simply pushing the Send button on the health measurement device, which allows the user to check his/her own health data or receive health guidance with great ease through a cellular phone.
Source: NTT DoCoMo Inc.
www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/news_release/page/080715_00.html (Japanese Site)
Tanita Steps Up Its Member-based Health Management Service
Tanita Corporation, a leading health measurement device manufacturer, announced that it would expand its member-based health management service. Specifically, Tanita will restructure the pricing scheme and add new menus in a bid to expand the user base. Tanita’s members-only “Karada Karute (Body Chart)” service that links body composition meters and other health measurement devices with communication functions to the web, now offers a diet menu that allows the member to manage his/her weight, body fat and other data measured by a body composition meter. Realizing the growing public interest in health management with the start of the mandatory physical examination/health guidance scheme, Tanita hopes to sign new members to its Karada Karute service. The company will launch full-scale marketing efforts to develop new customers in October, when Tanita will start selling its body composition meters, blood pressure meters and other devices supported by the service at mass merchants for consumer electronics and home appliances.
Source: Tanita Corporation
www.tanita.co.jp/company/press/MYH080827.pdf (Japanese Site)
Descente Develops a Health Management Tool with Shinsedai
The Descente Health Management Institute developed the “XaviX+D3” health management tool jointly with Shinsedai Co., Ltd. that develops software and is also involved in the development, manufacture and sale of digital devices. XaviX+D3 will be available on the market in mid October. XaviX+D3 automatically sets a weight loss menu suitable for each user when the user’s vital data, such as those from health examination results, are entered. By carrying the activity sensor that comes with the system, the user can also monitor his/her daily activity level and make up for the shortage by exercising at home under the guidance of a virtual instructor. This function is effective in preventing metabolic syndrome, Descente said. Descente will utilize XaviX+D3 as a basic tool under the company’s “Heath Improvement Program” and aims to receive orders from the health insurance associations of companies that are implementing a health guidance program associated with the mandatory health guidance scheme.
www.descente.co.jp/press_releases/detail/119 (Japanese site)
Source: Descente
www.descente.co.jp/press_releases/detail/119 (Japanese Site)
Fancl Releases a New Concept Anti-aging Supplement
On November 21, Fancl Corporation began selling its “BITOKI” beauty supplement, containing a patented anti-aging composition, through mail order and directly owned retail outlets. BITOKI contains six compositions that help promote metabolism and create beautiful skin, such as active soybean saponin B, co-enzyme Q10, HTC collagen, hyaluronic acid, soybean isoflavone and royal jelly. BITOKI was developed by focusing the metabolic cycle of protein. Blending “soybean saponin,” a newly discovered functional composition that facilitates the breakdown of old protein that causes aging, BITOKI is an anti-aging product that slows down the speed of aging in the body.
Source: Fancl Corporation
www.fancl.co.jp/corporate/news/data/2008.09.30bitoki.pdf (Japanese Site)
SSP Launches a New Health Supplement “Kaizen Seikatsu Metaboy Capsule”
On September 29, SSP Co., Ltd. began selling its “Kaizen Seikatsu (Lifestyle Improvement) Metaboy Capsule” at convenience stores, supermarkets and other retail outlets across the country. The way modern consumers think of their health is changing with the growing concerns over metabolic syndrome and introduction of the mandatory health examination system. To take advantage of this trend, SSP introduced the new capsule, which contains L-carnitine and CoQ10, as a nutritionally balanced diet supplement to be taken after light exercise, commuting or other casual physical activity.
www.ssp.co.jp/news/2008/080924-3.html (Japanese site)
Source: SSP Co., Ltd.
www.ssp.co.jp/news/2008/080924-3.html (Japanese Site)
6. Cure Services
Tanita to Provide Circuit Training Packages Combining Equipment and Exercise Methods
On September 29, Tanita Corporation announced that it would step up the company’s “circuit training” business aimed at short-term exercise programs. The circuit training market, comprised of small independent outlets that operate casual fitness training facilities, has grown rapidly and is seeing intense competition as a result of entries by a number of new players. In light of the situation, Tanita will utilize the know-how it has accumulated as a health measurement equipment manufacturer to propose new business models and explore potential market segments, while propping up sales from existing outlets, to bolster its profit base. While continuing to focus on chain outlets, Tanita will also assist potential/exiting customers wanting to introduce circuit training systems or open circuit training facilities, and also sell training machine packages. Tanita will also tap the corporate demand among offices and factories and propose optimal startup packages meeting the needs of individual companies by drawing on the wide range of measuring systems that can be installed in small spaces and by also utilizing the company’s wealth of know-how in weight loss management.
Source: Tanita Corporation
www.tanita.co.jp/company/press/20080929Fitsme.pdf (Japanese Site)
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