Star Scientists and Drug Discovery Ecosystem in Japan

Abstract

Although Japan is one of the world's leading countries in the creation of new drugs, a decline in its drug discovery capabilities has been pointed out in recent years. Despite the presence of key players necessary for drug creation—including star scientists, major pharmaceutical companies, venture capitals, and government agencies—there is no established ecosystem that facilitates collaboration among these players. This paper aims to identify the challenges and propose solutions for Japan's drug discovery ecosystem by integrating academic insights, with a particular focus on the author's research on "star scientists." First, the paper provides an overview of the background that necessitated the creation of a drug discovery ecosystem and reviews prior studies on drug discovery and ecosystems. Next, it outlines the current challenges facing Japan's drug discovery ecosystem. Finally, from the perspective of innovation policy, it proposes new policy packages to promote a virtuous cycle within the ecosystem.