Taichi Akutsu, Ph.D. Violinist and Researcher in Music Education Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute Abstract 　This paper examines the organizational challenges that arise during the initial response to harassment at public universities in Japan, with particular attention to the stage before a formal investigation is launched. Drawing on publicly available harassment regulations and guidelines together with a hypothetical case of

Tetsuya Tanimoto, MD. Chairman of Accessible Railway Medical Services Tetsuikai Medical Corporation. Director of Navitas Clinic Kawasaki In May, the drug-pricing policy announced by the Trump administration went beyond a simple reduction in U.S. drug prices and took on the nature of a global political and economic strategy. Its impact is expected to ripple across the entire global pharmaceutical system. Behind the policy, which aims to align U.S. drug prices with those of cou

Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute In recent years, the breast cancer field, which the author is responsible for, has seen a continuous succession of new drug developments. In 2024, capivasertib ("Truqap") for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with specific gene mutations (PIK3CA, AKT1, PTEN) was approved in March, sacituzumab govitecan ("Trodelvy") for triple-negative breast cancer in November, and datopotamab deruxtecan (

Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute "We are taking this drug off the market because we cannot prove its effectiveness." Cancer treatment drugs that were deemed this way in the United States are still used as "recommended treatments" in Japan. At least seven cases have been confirmed as of July 2023. This surprising fact was revealed by the authors' latest research, accepted for publication in “Investigational New Drugs” and is due

Masahiro Kami, M.D., Ph.D. President, Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan The COVID-19 vaccine KOSTAIVE, developed by Meiji Seika Pharma, a subsidiary of Meiji Holdings (Meiji HD), is drawing public attention. Social media is overflowing with rumors such as false claims that "shedding from vaccinated individuals can infect others around them." Shedding refers to the idea that after KOSTAIVE proliferates in the recipient’s body, some of it is released into the

Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute Is there any influence from pharmaceutical companies on the medicines doctors prescribe? On August 10th, 2024, medical students and young doctors tackled this sensitive issue head-on at a symposium held at the 56th Japanese Society of Medical Education Conference held at Teikyo University. "56.9% of doctors meet with pharmaceutical companies at least once a week." The results of our questionna

Masahiro Kami, M.D., Ph.D. President, Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan The new coronavirus vaccine "Costaive," developed by Meiji Seika Pharma (a subsidiary of Meiji Holdings), has garnered significant public attention. Social media is flooded with misinformation, including claims that vaccinated individuals can infect others through 'shedding'. Meiji has initiated defamation lawsuits against anti-vaccine groups that have led the spread of these falsehoods.

Tetsuya Tanimoto, M.D. Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan In spring 2023, our pharmaceutical conflicts of interest research group participated in an international conference in Bath, UK. There, we had the pleasure of meeting Professor Tom Fahey from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. While Ireland is a small nation with an estimated population of 5.28 million in 2023, it boasts a young demographic and impressive economic metrics. According to the IMF,

Accessible Rail Medical Services Tetsuikai, Navitas Clinic Kawasaki Tetsuya Tanimoto, MD Terumo’s regenerative medicine product for heart failure treatment, "HeartSheet," achieved the world’s first practical application and received manufacturing and marketing approval in Japan in September 2015. However, on July 19th, it was confirmed at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Council Subcommittee on Regenerative Medicine Products and Biological T

Tetsuya Tanimoto, M.D. Physician, Medical Governance Research Institute On April 13th, our institute hosted its second public symposium on the Pharmaceutical Money Database (DB), a continuation from last year's inaugural event. Approximately 40 participants, both on-site and online, engaged in spirited discussions. The symposium was opened by Dr. Masahiro Kami, Chairman of our institute, followed by Dr. Hiroaki Saito, who moderated the event. Coinciding with the release of th

Masahiro Kami, M.D., Ph.D. President, Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan The Kobayashi Pharmaceutical red yeast rice issue has sparked discussions about the safety of health foods, highlighting that Japan is following a trend already established in the U.S. two decades ago. Part of Abenomics, the functional food labeling system initiated in April 2015, was modeled after the U.S.'s Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) established in 1994. This

Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute In October 2023, we visited Professor Chen Yaorong at...

Tetsuya Tanimoto, M.D. Physician, Medical Governance Research Institute The Medical Governance Research Institute has been at the forefront of transparency in healthcare, showcasing the ties between pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals. Since fiscal year 2016, we have maintained and updated the "YEN FOR DOCS" database, a comprehensive record of payments made to healthcare professionals and institutions. The latest update, including the 2020 data, was released on

Masahiro Kami, M.D., Ph.D. President, Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan Mr. Keizo Takemi has been appointed as the Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare. His selection by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, particularly as he is a candidate recommended by the Japan Medical Association (JMA), has garnered significant attention from the public. I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Takemi, during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19. At the time, I was asked

Companies as a Breast Surgeon Akihiko Ozaki, M.D., Ph.D. Physician at the Medical Governance Research Institute Inconsistency. That's my...