CPhI Japan 2018, largest and leading pharmaceutical exhibition in Japan will take place at the Big Sight Exhibition Centre, Tokyo from April 18-20, 2018. CPhI Japan is a five-in-one event allowing visitors to gain access to the entire Japanese pharma industry under one roof, and meet with exhibitors working across ingredients, contract services, biopharmaceuticals, machinery, technology, and packaging.

Notable features at CPhI Japan 2018 include:

The Business Matchmaking Programme, an online matchmaking tool, enables attendees to search for and arrange meetings with exhibitors prior to the show.

Exhibitor Showcases will run on the show floor and allow exhibitors 30-minutes to present their products, services, new launches, and innovations to visitors and press.

Japan Life Science Week – In addition to the 10 trade shows the organisers have launched the two new life science related events; Health Care IT and Fine Chemical Japan in the last two years.

The Customer Insight Lounge – a relaxed environment with massage chairs and refreshments where visitors and exhibitors can network together with UBM members.

New for 2018 is the Supplier Finder, an interactive floor plan designed to allow attendees to quickly find specific suppliers and exhibitors at the exhibition.

Increased international generic API companies and suppliers are reported at CPhI Japan 2018, traditionally an innovative drug focussed market, due to recent changes in the country. As uncovered earlier this year in the CPhI Japan 2018 report, after years of gradual reforms, the Japanese pharma economy is becoming extremely welcoming for generics and overseas manufactures – particularly those that can combine exemplary regulatory records with competitive pricing. By joining the Pharmaceutical Convention Inspection (PIC/S) scheme in 2014, Japan has opened its doors to new entrants.

In response, the event will open a finished dosage formulation zone (FDF) for 2018, building on the increasing diversity of the API supplier base. In total, 21,000 executives will come from 56 countries, highlighting the country’s growing internationalisation, with 550 exhibitors from 30 countries – an increase of nearly 100 exhibitors in just two years. These include major suppliers of pharmaceutical ingredients, packaging, contract services as well as machinery and technology providers. Around 200 seminars will take place across the event.

Beyond the exhibition, over 9,000 pharma professionals will attend the CPhI Japan conference, with insights from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, the Japanese Society of Generic and Biosimilar Medicines, and the Japan Pharmaceutical Traders’ Association.

Another major development in Japan, especially for new market entrants, is the implications of the 2018 ‘Pricing system reform and introduction of cost-effectiveness assessment’ on which the conference will host a keynote address. Conversely, for buyers in the region, information and access to the international partners will be integral to establishing a robust supply chain, with the event also hosting an ‘International API Procurement Forum’ – specifically designed to empower the Government’s requirement for 80% generic market penetration by 2020.

Outside of solid dose drugs, biologics are also showing potential, specifically for antibodies, protein based drugs and vaccines. The Japanese Government’s investments in industrial bio cluster projects and the creation of support programmes for bio ventures and universities has meant BioPh has become a much larger part of CPhI Japan in the last couple of years.

For more information about CPhI Japan and to register to attend, visit: http://gotocphi.com/prjapan18