Introduction During the September 19 JPLA meeting, one recurring question emerged: Why do so many requests on the BioJapan partnering system go unanswered? On the surface, the platform is well designed—connecting Japanese and overseas companies in licensing, BD, and collaboration. Yet in practice, replies often feel elusive. A major Japanese Read more
I had an eye-opening chat with a BD lead at a European CDMO. Their team had met several Japanese companies at trade shows, the conversations went well, and—great news—the Japanese side asked for a quote. So far, so good. But there’s one thing many European teams miss at this exact Read more
While preparing our BioJapan materials, we revisited an excellent guide from JETRO—the Japan External Trade Organization, a government‑related body that promotes trade and investment and equips foreign firms with practical playbooks for operating in Japan. Building on those fundamentals, this article reframes the insights specifically for CDMOs and platform biotechs Read more
In a previous article, I noted that LinkedIn is barely used in Japan, and English-language announcements are usually ignored by the very people you want to reach. If you are serious about building a presence in Japan, you cannot rely on global channels alone. You need to invest in Japan-specific Read more
Japan is the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical market, yet dozens of therapies approved in the United States or Europe remain unavailable to Japanese patients. This phenomenon—often called “drug loss”—exists when drugs approved abroad are neither approved nor even in development domestically. According to government data, by March 2023 there were 143 Read more