2022 Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 146-150
Pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities have played a central role in drug development. In recent years, however, since patients are the ultimate users of drugs, it has been recognized that it is important for pharmaceutical companies to directly obtain patients' opinions and requests and to make use of patients' real–life experiences for drug development. In addition, contributing to the realization of a common wish for patients and pharmaceutical companies to “deliver drugs with value to patients faster” is considered to be the most important significance of engaging in drug development that makes use of patients' voices.
One of the visions for 2025 is to “advance drug development with patients” set by the Clinical Evaluation Expert Committee, Drug Evaluation Committee, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (The following is the JPMA). In order to cultivate a culture of drug development that makes use of patients' voices, we consider that medium– to long–term activities are necessary, and have been examining and making proposals since 2016.
In this section, I would like to present the current status, challenges, and future prospects of drug development that takes advantage of patients' voices from pharmaceutical companies, together with the activities that the JPMA has been carrying out since fiscal 2016.
