On October 1, 2002, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., a Swiss pharmaceutical company, merged with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. The merger will make Chugai a subsidiary of Nippon Roche K.K., Roche’s division in Japan. The name Chugai Pharmaceutical will be retained, however, Nippon... Read More
The Japanese Health Insurance Reform Bill was enacted at the end of July 2002. This reform will shift healthcare cost burdens towards the active workers and the elderly. The main changes as a result of the bill are as follows: Co-payment for... Read More
The Ministry of Science and Technology as well as other governmental bodies in China are considering the implementation of a tax break or exemption for companies that invest in new drug development. Up to this time, China has not been a major... Read More
South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy recently announced their plans to develop five Special Economic Zones (SEZs) throughout the country. The plan is part of the Korean government’s endeavor to attract greater foreign investments into the country. Besides special tax incentives... Read More
In an effort to strengthen Japan’s drug development capabilities, a group of about 20 public, academic, and private organizations are together forming the Kansai Bio-Information Highway Project. The project comprises of an extensive computer-networking endeavor that will allow participants of the project... Read More
The Singaporean Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on August 20, 2002, that they are implementing new regulatory controls over Chinese proprietary medicines (CPMs). Due to the rise of recent health related problems as a result of CPM consumption, the Ministry is tightening... Read More
Controversy has arisen between US drug manufacturers and the Korean government regarding the reform of South Korea’s national health insurance system and its affects on drug pricing. Proposals have been made by Korea’s Health Ministry to implement a new reference pricing system... Read More
The Japanese House of Representatives passed and enacted the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law on July 25, 2002. The revision of the law will facilitate start-up pharmaceutical and medical device companies that do not have production facilities in Japan to enter into the... Read More
The Singapore government has set aside another S$25 million (US$14.3 million) to distribute to promising companies in the life-sciences industry. Singapore’s Economic Development Board has already spent in excess of S$150 million (US$86 million) in 50 portfolio companies. The money will come... Read More
Since 1985, Japan’s In Country Caretaker (ICC) system has allowed foreign medical manufacturers without a local office in Japan to register products “directly” in their own name (Japan law does not allow medical companies without a local presence to register their products... Read More