Clinical pharmacologists and drug regulation--future perspective in Japan

1. The Japanese pharmaceutical administration system, and recommendations for the improvement of clinical trial methodology following the implementation of GCP guidelines in Japan are described with special reference to three recent developments in Japanese drug regulation. 2. The implementation of GCP guidelines has not been fully satisfactory and clinical trials in Japan still run into problems. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has recently established a Committee on Safety of Medicines after serious trouble with a new drug was experienced. The Committee released an interim report on the reform of clinical trials supervision and the system for examination of New Drug Applications. 3. ICH-GCP guidelines will be implemented in Japan in the next few years. The principal differences between Japanese GCP and ICH-GCP guidelines, and their effects on clinical trials in Japan with reference to the acceptability of ICH-GCP, are discussed. 4. The final proposals on the National Health Insurance drug pricing method and the appropriate use of drugs by the Central Social Insurance Medical Council are anticipated to have a significant impact on the drug market. The changes in pricing system, especially premiums for innovative drugs, and the implications for the drug market are considered. 5. In these changed circumstances, the importance of the role of clinical pharmacologists in the framework of the new drug regulations in Japan is reviewed.