The future of neurotherapeutics – promoting open innovation as the key to drug development

Abstract

In these days, open innovation is critical element to develop innovative treatment methods in neurological disease and globally, bio–ventures have become key players in drug discovery and development. The Japanese government is working on promoting open innovation, including infrastructure development and institutional policy formulation. The role played by academia is also important, and the Japanese Society of Neurological Therapeutics that promote drug discovery are actively involved in activities that serve as the foundation for such open innovation.

Cultural elements also have a significant impact on the promotion of open innovation. The characteristics of the Japanese people, such as their diligence, strong sense of responsibility, patience, prudence, cooperativeness and harmoniousness, consideration for others, continuous improvement orientation, and quality orientation, have led to excellent results in basic and clinical research. On the other hand, these characteristics can sometimes be incompatible with open innovation. Recognizing such challenges is also necessary to rapidly connect Japan's excellent research to clinical applications in the global ecosystem and provide better treatment methods to the patients.