Global HEOR is transforming healthcare decision-making by evaluating treatment costs, patient quality of life, and overall value, helping stakeholders make informed choices. ISPOR’s new “HEOR Explained” website simplifies these complex concepts to promote wider understanding and application of real-world evidence and ultimately drive more effective and sustainable healthcare.   In today’s…

Japan Japan’s amended Cannabis Control Law now permits the development and medical use of cannabis-derived drugs, particularly CBD-based treatments, while simultaneously criminalizing self-use of smokable cannabis products. Writing in the February 2024 edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Toshi Tominaga of Keio University explains why, despite aligning with evolving international regulations,…

Europe The EMA’s Pre-Accession Assistance Program (IPA) helps EU candidate and potential candidate countries align their medicines regulations with EU standards through training, capacity-building, and policy support. As a new op-ed in the February 2025 edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine outlines, an impact assessment of IPA II (2020-2023) showed significant…

China China’s position as one of the leading global sources and recipients of biopharmaceutical innovation is inarguable. However, in the new Year of the Snake, geopolitical and economic uncertainties are swirling, calling some to question the role that the country can continue to play in global health. Despite these challenging times,…

Denmark As tensions rise over US-EU trade, will the weight-loss drug Ozempic become an unexpected bargaining chip? Stan Jackson explores the risks of leveraging GLP-1s in economic negotiations.   You can always tell when a blockbuster drug has entered the cultural zeitgeist. It’s around the time you start to hear the…

Global A wave of blockbuster biologics is set to lose patent protection, creating a major inflection point for the biosimilars market in 2025 and beyond. While Europe remains the global leader in biosimilar adoption, South Korea is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse, leveraging strong government support and industry investment. However, a…

Japan After 12 years at the helm, Takeda CEO Christophe Weber is stepping down, leaving behind a transformed company. Under his leadership, Japan’s biggest drugmaker expanded globally with the $62 billion acquisition of Shire, made waves with its dengue vaccine QDENGA, navigated the loss of exclusivity on its ADHD blockbuster, and…

Global The 2025 Davos World Economic Forum brought together business leaders from multiple industries to debate the challenges and issues facing the world today. The Pharma CEOs in attendance discussed critical topics such as the impact of climate change on health, AI-driven innovation, and the complexities of global trade tensions, all…

Global In an era of rapid scientific breakthroughs, global regulators are navigating new challenges—accelerating approvals, harmonising standards, and integrating digital tools—while balancing safety, efficacy, and access. Throughout 2024, PharmaBoardroom spoke with regulators worldwide to uncover the key regulatory trends shaping the future of healthcare in 2025 and beyond.   The Road…

Africa Building on the recent controversy over Tanzania’s handling of a suspected Marburg virus outbreak, Medicines for Africa’s Lenias Hwenda explores how African nations often face disproportionate consequences for outbreak transparency—penalties that wealthier countries rarely experience.   African countries face a difficult choice during outbreak situations. On one hand, they have…

Global While many diagnostics companies have suffered from the decline in COVID-19 testing since the pandemic, the sector, expected to grow from USD 210.58 billion to reach USD 284.38 billion by 2033, continues to thrive as it brings forward new levels of innovation and precision for a range of diseases. We…

Merck Over the course of its 350-year history, Merck KGaA has expanded from its base in Darmstadt, Germany to establish a strong presence in various markets across the globe. Last year, PharmaBoardroom spoke with Merck affiliate leaders in multiple geographies, uncovering their concerns and priorities as the firm pushed to recover…