Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles
Published on: December 1, 2016
Anticancer Drug Prescription Patterns in Japan: Future Directions in Cancer Therapy
Shoyo Shibata1, Maiko Matsushita2, Yoshimasa Saito3
11 Division of Basic Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Despite their benefits, the rapid development of new cancer treatments has been a significant driver of increasing health care expenditures in the face of limited health care budgets. In this study, we analyzed the prescribing trends for anticancer drugs from 2010 through 2016 in Japan and sought to identify unique trends that could provide a basis for future medical economic research aiming to develop more efficacious and cost-effective cancer therapies.
Methods:
We used publicly available marketing data for anticancer drugs in Japan for 2010-2016. The drugs selected for this research were categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System. We investigated the overall anticancer drug market size, the number of anticancer drugs, the top 30 selling anticancer categories, sales and prescription volumes, and changes in sales and prescription volumes between 2010 and 2016 in the country.
Results:
The anticancer agent market expanded each year from 2010 to 2016, with sales exceeding 1 trillion yen in 2015. The proportion of molecular targeted drugs (antineoplastic mAbs and protein kinase inhibitors) among the top 30 selling anticancer categories has continued to increase, and both the sales and prescription volumes of these drugs exceeded those of drugs in other categories, suggesting that these treatments play a dominant role in cancer pharmacotherapy.
Conclusion:
The availability and increasing use of innovative but more expensive targeted therapies were major drivers of increases in pharmaceutical expenditures for cancer treatment in Japan. Therefore, the effective use of genetic testing can mitigate these rising costs.
Insights
The anticancer drug market in Japan grew significantly from 2010-2016, driven by expensive molecular targeted therapies. Effective genetic testing can help manage rising cancer treatment costs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Pharmaceutical Market Analysis
Background:
- Rising healthcare expenditures are linked to new cancer treatments.
- Limited health budgets necessitate cost-effective therapeutic strategies.
- Understanding prescribing trends is crucial for economic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze anticancer drug prescribing trends in Japan (2010-2016).
- Identify trends for future medical economic research.
- Inform the development of cost-effective cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized publicly available marketing data for anticancer drugs in Japan (2010-2016).
- Categorized drugs using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.
- Investigated market size, drug counts, top-selling categories, sales, and prescription volumes.
Main Results:
- The anticancer agent market expanded annually, exceeding 1 trillion yen in 2015.
- Molecular targeted drugs (antineoplastic mAbs, protein kinase inhibitors) increased in proportion and sales.
- These targeted therapies now dominate cancer pharmacotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Innovative, expensive targeted therapies drive pharmaceutical expenditure increases for cancer treatment in Japan.
- Effective utilization of genetic testing can help mitigate rising cancer treatment costs.
Related Concept Videos
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:28Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:26Drug Administration and Therapy Phases: Overview
The pharmaceutical phase focuses on leveraging the physicochemical properties of the drug to design and manufacture an effective product. Variants include orally administered tablets or capsules, topical creams or ointments, and parenteral-delivery solutions or emulsions.
The pharmacokinetic phase...
01:25Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors