Skip to main content

Abstract

The regulations for the human use of advanced therapy medical products such as gene and cell therapy products have evolved in accordance with advance of clinical experience, scientific knowledge, and social acceptance to these technologies. In Japan, two laws, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (PMD) Act and the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine (ASRM), were enacted in November 2014. The PMD Act defines regenerative medical products for the first time and introduces a system for the conditional and time-limited marketing authorization of regenerative medical products. Under ASRM, the responsibilities of medical institutions to ensure the safety and provide transparency of such medical technologies are described. Amendments to accompanying guidelines for these two Acts are currently in preparation. It is expected that the new legislative frameworks will promote the timely development of new products and technologies, to bring safe and effective regenerative medicines to Japanese patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

ASRM:

Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine

ATMP:

Advanced therapy medical products

CT:

Cell therapy

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

GCP:

Good clinical practice

GCT:

Gene and cell therapy

GL:

Guideline

GT:

Gene therapy

HSC:

Health Science Council

ICH:

International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use

iPS:

Induced pluripotent stem

JSRM:

Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine

MA:

Marketing authorization

MAA:

Marketing authorization application

MAH:

Marketing authorization holder

MHLW:

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

NIHS:

National Institute of Health Sciences

OCTP:

Office of Cellular and Tissue-based Products

PAL:

Pharmaceutical Affairs Law

PASFC:

Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council

PMD Act:

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (revised PAL)

PMDA:

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

References

  1. Cyanoski D (2010) Korean death spark inquiry. Nature 468:485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. YOKOHAMA declaration from JSRM. http://www.asas.or.jp/jsrm/announcements/130326.html

  3. Act for the Promotion of Regenerative Medicine [in Japanese] Act No. 13 of May 10, 2013. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10800000-Iseikyoku/0000066236.pdf

  4. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act [in Japanese] Act No. 103 of Nov. 2013. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/dl/140825_0-1.pdf

  5. Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine [in Japanese] Act No. 85 Nov. 2013. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10800000-Iseikyoku/0000030847.pdf

  6. Hara A, Sato D, Sahara Y (2014) New governmental regulatory system for stem cell-based therapies in Japan. Therap Innov Regulat Sci 48:681–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Guideline for ensuring of quality and safety of GT products [in Japanese] (MHLW/Notification No. 0701-4; July 1st, 2013). http://wwwhourei.mhlw.go.jp/cgi-bin/t_docframe2.cgi?MODE=tsuchi&DMODE=SEARCH&SMODE=NORMAL&KEYWORD=%88%e2%93%60%8e%71%8e%a1%97%c3%97%70%88%e3%96%f2%95%69&EFSNO=6433&FILE=FIRST&POS=0&HITSU=26

  8. Minutes of Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Biological Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, 25 June, 2012 [in Japanese]. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/shingi/2r9852000002qpy1.html

  9. Points to consider for marketing authorization application of regenerative medical products [in Japanese]. (Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; 12 Aug 2014). http://www.mhlw.go.jp/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/dl/140825_7-2.pdf

  10. Handling of “Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine”, “Enforcement ordinance for Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine” and “Enforcement regulation for Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine” [in Japanese]. (Research and Development Division, Health Policy Bureau, MHLW; 31 Oct 2014). http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10800000-Iseikyoku/0000063606.pdf

  11. Medical Service Act [in Japanese/English] Act No. 205 of July 30, 1948. http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?id=2199&vm=04&re=0

  12. Medical Practitioners’ Act [in Japanese/English] Act No. 201 of July 30, 1948. http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?id=2074&vm=04&re=02

  13. Pharmaceutical Affair Law [in Japanese]. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/dl/140825_0-1.pdf

  14. National Institute of Health Sciences [NIHS] Database for GT clinical studies [in Japanese]. http://www.nihs.go.jp/cgtp/cgtp/sec1/gt_prtcl/prtcl-j3.html

  15. National Institute of Health Sciences [NIHS] Database for CT clinical research using stem cells [in Japanese]. http://www.nihs.go.jp/cgtp/cgtp/sec2/sispsc/html/index.html

  16. Japanese GCP [in Japanese] (Ministerial Notification of MHLW; No. 28; 27 Mar. 1997). http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/H09/H09F03601000028.html

  17. PMDA pharmaceutical affairs consultation on R&D strategy [in Japanese]. http://www.pmda.go.jp/operations/shonin/info/consult/yakujisenryaku.html

  18. Report on the registration system of patients administered regenerative medicine products [in Japanese]. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/shingi/0000050197.html

  19. Act on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity through Regulations on the Use of Living Modified Organisms [in Japanese/English] Act No. 97 of June 18, 2003. http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=01&dn=1&co=01&ia=03&x=0&y=0&ky=%E8%96%AC%E4%BA%8B%E6%B3%95&page=1

  20. Quality and Safety Assurance of Pharmaceuticals Manufactured Using Human or Animal-derived Components as Raw Materials [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Medical Safety Bureau, the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Iyaku-hatsu No. 1314; 26 Dec, 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Standards for Biological Materials [in Japanese] (Ministerial Notification of MHLW, 2003 No. 210; 20 May 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Considerations in Standards for Biological Materials [in Japanese] (Notification of Evaluation and Licensing Division, Safety Division, Compliance and Narcotics Division and Blood and Blood Products Division, Pharmaceutical and Medical Safety Bureau, MHLW; Iyakushin-hatsu No. 0520001, Iyakuan-hatsu No. 0520001, Iyakukanma-hatsu No. 0520001 & iyakuketsu-hatsu No. 0520001; 20 May 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Guideline for Quality and Safety Assurance of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Based on Human Autologous Cells or Tissue [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0208003; 8 Feb 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Q&A on Guideline for Quality and Safety Assurance of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Based on Human Autologous Cells or Tissues [in Japanese] (Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; 12 Mar 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Concepts for Manufacturing Control and Quality Control of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Based on Human Autologous Cells or Tissues [in Japanese] (Notification of Compliance and Narcotics Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushokukanma-hatsu No. 0327025; 27 Mar 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Guideline for Quality and Safety Assurance of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Based on Human Allogeneic Cells or Tissues [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0912006; 12 Sep 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Q&A on Guideline for Quality and Safety Assurance of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Based on Human Allogeneic Cells or Tissues [in Japanese] (Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; 3 Oct 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Guidelines on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Pharmaceuticals and Other Products Derived from Processed Autologous Human Somatic Stem Cells [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0907-2; 7 Sep 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Guidelines on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Pharmaceuticals and Other Products Derived from Processed Allogeneic Human Somatic Stem Cells [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0907-3; 7 Sep 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Guidelines on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Pharmaceuticals and Other Products Derived from Processed Human (Autologous) Induced Pluripotent Stem-Like Cells [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0907-4; 7 Sep 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Guidelines on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Pharmaceuticals and Other Products Derived from Processed Human (Allogeneic) Induced Pluripotent Stem-Like Cell [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0907-5; 7 Sep 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Guidelines on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Pharmaceuticals and Other Products Derived from Processed Human Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells [in Japanese] (Notification of Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW; Yakushoku-hatsu No. 0907-6; 7 Sep 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Guideline for Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research [in Japanese] (Ministerial Notification of MHLW; 2006 No. 425; 3 July 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Related to Operation of Guideline for Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research [in Japanese] (Notification of Health Service Bureau, MHLW; Ken-hatsu No. 0703003; 3 Jul. 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Q&A on “Guideline for Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research” [in Japanese] (Specific Disease Control Division, Health Service Bureau, MHLW)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Processes for Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research [in Japanese] (Report for HSC, MHLW; 18 May 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Processes for Evaluation of Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research Based on “Guideline for Human Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Research” [in Japanese] (Report for HSC, MHLW; 27 Jul. 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Public comment for amendment of GL for GT clinical research [in Japanese]. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/0000069505.html

  39. MHLW project on making evaluation indicators for next-generation medical devises [in Japanese]. http://dmd.nihs.go.jp/jisedai/

  40. Project on promotion of practical use of innovative products [in Japanese]. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kakushin/

  41. JSRM statement for the new Acts [in Japanese]. http://www.asas.or.jp/jsrm/announcements/140311.html

Download references

Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Jun-ichi Sawada for helpful suggestions in preparing this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daisuke Maeda Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Maeda, D., Yamaguchi, T., Ishizuka, T., Hirata, M., Takekita, K., Sato, D. (2015). Regulatory Frameworks for Gene and Cell Therapies in Japan. In: Galli, M., Serabian, M. (eds) Regulatory Aspects of Gene Therapy and Cell Therapy Products. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 871. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18618-4_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics