An Empirical Study of the Prescription Pattern of Drugs for Hematological Malignancies in Japan from 2010–2014

Abstract

The number of elderly patients with hematologic malignancies has been steadily increasing with the aging of society. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate the prescription status of drugs for such diseases in Japan. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify the patient population currently being prescribed drugs for hematologic malignancies in Japan and the direction of drug development. To examine the prescription pattern of drugs for the treatment of hematological malignancies in Japan from 2010-2014, we used the IMS Japan Pharmaceutical Market database and the Japanese Society of Hematology Clinical Practice Guidelines, and for drug development status, we used ClinicalTrials.gov and the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. We found a significant upward trend in prescriptions for molecular-targeted agents, which are typically prescribed over the long term, and a significant downward trend in chemotherapeutic agents, which are usually prescribed for the short term. We also found that recent drug development in hematological malignancies has focused on molecular-targeted agents. These results suggest that drug development should be directed toward anti-tumor agents in hematological malignancies that can help maintain and improve patients' QOL.

Anticancer Drug Prescription Patterns in Japan: Future Directions in Cancer Therapy

“…Our results demonstrated that the mainstream of the current drug development focusing on anticancer drugs and especially on molecular targeted drugs, 25,26 and the highest ratio of molecular targeted agents in prescription pattern of drugs was observed in treatment of hematologic malignancies in Japan. 27,28 The findings of the present study suggested that medical costs for cancer as well as other diseases have continuously increased, although the pace of the increase may decline if precision medicine or related regulations are properly introduced. Ishii et al reported that there was little interest in cost analyses in cancer treatments in Japan, as most of the cost is managed by the government through the National Health Insurance system.…”

Analysis of new molecular entity trends from 2006 to 2015 in Japan

“…19 This is expected to encourage increased R&D by Japanese pharmaceutical companies, especially in therapeutic areas where contributions have been made mainly by global pharmaceutical companies, resulting in the Japanese pharmaceutical market becoming more comparable to the global market. Actually, several reports have showed an upward R&D trend, especially in oncologic drugs in Japan, [25][26][27][28][29][30] which is being accelerated through these schemes.…”

The pharmaceutical market and drug development prognosis in Japan: Current and future perspectives according to pharmacological classes

“…As discussed above, the Japanese market is unique. R&D for both ''L'' and N'' drugs has been encouraged under current regulations, [27][28][29] maybe in part because the new reward premium system has been working well, Figure 7. Concept of repricing for market expansion.…”

“…As discussed above, the Japanese market is unique. R&D for both “L” and N” drugs has been encouraged under current regulations, 27–29 maybe in part because the new reward premium system has been working well, encouraging the R&D of drugs that meet medical needs in Japan such as anti-cancer drugs and drugs for intractable diseases, although we acknowledge that there are several inconsistencies with regard to repricing for market expansion. This reward system has been continued, which is encouraging leading pharmaceutical companies to enter the niche market where medical needs are quite high due to the small number of patients.…”