A New 'Drug Lag' Record

The cautious nature of Japan's regulatory regime has been demonstrated once again. A government panel has recommended approval of thalidomide for multiple myeloma ten years after it was registered in the US for this new indication. While BMI applauds Japan's commitment to patient safety, the bureaucracy it imposes on the regulatory system means that innovative therapeutics are not reaching the market quickly enough.

To read the full article, please choose one of the following options: