Is Japan Leading a New Digital Health Movement?
Factors that contribute to Japan's prominent position in the rapidly evolving field of digital therapeutics and why it matters to the global life sciences industry.
Japan’s digital health market is expected to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
“Japanese-based pharmaceutical companies have been interested in digital therapeutics (DTx) for years,” explained Andy Molnar, CEO of Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA). “Shionogi formed a partnership with Akili in 2019, Sumitomo Pharma partnered with Realized Care (BehaVR, at the time) in 2021, and late last year, Daiichi Sankyo announced they plan to review as many opportunities in the DTx space as possible. What we are seeing now is the result of years of interest in this space.”
Just ahead of International Clinical Trials Day on May 20, let’s dive in to understand the factors that contribute to Japan's prominent position in this rapidly evolving field—and why it matters to the global life sciences industry.
A Flair for Technological Innovation
Japan is renowned for its technological prowess, with a long history of driving advancements in electronics, robotics, and computing. This technological foundation has naturally extended into the healthcare sector, where Japan has redirected its technology ingenuity to develop cutting-edge digital health solutions. In fact, the digital health market in Japan is expected to tower over China, reaching
From advanced wearables that monitor vital signs to sophisticated telemedicine platforms enabling remote consultations, Japan's technological innovation underpins its leadership in digital health. For example, Takeda developed a digital therapeutic app to help monitor Parkinson disease.
Patients with this disease experience tremors and other symptoms that fluctuate in severity throughout the day and can be challenging to describe. Continuous monitoring helps physicians develop effective treatment plans, but medical-grade monitoring devices are heavy and difficult for patients to wear 24/7.
Through a partnership with Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo, Takeda created an integrated care solution called
In another example, Sumitomo Pharma is
Most recently, too, Japan-based Otsuka
A Growing Elderly Population
One of the most pressing challenges facing Japan is its rapidly aging population. For the first time in the island nation’s history, more than
Japan’s swelling elderly population creates unique healthcare challenges, including increased demand for long-term care and chronic disease management. Digital health technologies offer a solution to these challenges by enabling more efficient healthcare delivery, enhancing access to care for the elderly, and facilitating better management of chronic conditions.
DTx products, such as AI-powered diagnostic systems and mobile health applications, play a critical role in providing personalized and accessible care to Japan's aging population. For example, Japanese startup Iris built an AI-powered device called
The company trained its AI model with more than 500,000 throat images, supplemented with information from a patient questionnaire to provide its diagnoses. The innovative tool offers elderly individuals—prone to influenza—with a more comfortable, accurate diagnosis.
A Move Toward Proactive Healthcare Policies
Since revising the Pharmaceutical Act in 2014, the Japanese government has been moving swiftly to upgrade its healthcare system with digital therapeutics and implementing forward-thinking policies and initiatives. The government has launched numerous initiatives over the years to promote the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and other digital health tools.
CureApp, a startup company pioneering digital therapeutics in Japan, received Japan's first regulatory approval in 2020 for its "CureApp SC" nicotine addiction treatment app, followed by the world’s first regulatory approval for hypertension in 2022 for its high blood pressure management application. These efforts are supported by policies aimed at creating a favorable regulatory environment for digital health innovation, including streamlining the approval process for digital health solutions and providing financial incentives for their adoption.
“In terms of demographics, there’s a good foundation for digital therapeutics in Japan to become as prevalent as that in the US,” said Naoyuki Kanda, business producer at Astellas Pharma in an
Japan's success in digital health is also attributed to the collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and academic institutions. This collaboration has facilitated the integration of digital health technologies into the healthcare system, ensuring that innovations are effectively translated into clinical practice. Public-private partnerships are instrumental in driving the development and adoption of digital health solutions to improve healthcare—and an area in which the United States is still developing.
“Many of the APAC countries can move quicker than the US when it comes to reimbursement,” added Molnar. “Clinical trials must be done on the Japanese population for market authorization in Japan, so we are seeing large growth in Japanese companies that are focused solely on the Japanese market. And you can see this through more local associations such as JaDHA (the Japanese digital health association). Japanese companies have big international footprints as well, so this will certainly influence global markets.”
A Longstanding Cultural Acceptance
The innate cultural acceptance of technology in Japan plays a crucial role in the adoption of digital health solutions. The Japanese population's openness to technology has enabled the rapid adoption of digital health tools, making it easier to integrate these technologies into everyday healthcare practices.
They were among the first to adopt technologies such as Nintendo’s Game Boy and Sony’s Walkman in the early 1980s, and today, Japan is a world leader in robotics where humanoid robots are commonplace in Japanese homes and workplaces, including healthcare settings. Today, the tide is turning again.
Japan's leadership in digital health is the result of a multifaceted approach that combines technological innovation, proactive healthcare policies, and a collaborative ecosystem. By addressing its demographic challenges through digital solutions and fostering an environment conducive to innovation, Japan sets a global benchmark in leveraging technology to enhance healthcare outcomes.
As digital health continues to evolve, Japan's experiences offer valuable lessons for other countries looking to harness the potential of technology to improve healthcare delivery and patient care.
About the Author
Dave Hanaman is co-founder, president, and chief commercial officer of Curavit Clinical Research, a virtual contract research organization (VCRO) that designs and executes decentralized clinical trials and specializing in digital therapeutics. He is a proven entrepreneur, operator, and board director. Founder of C3i, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) healthcare provider, Hanaman developed and led its sales, marketing, product development, and alliance strategies. He serves as a board member and advisor to several start-up and growth-stage companies in healthcare and technology. Hanaman graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and served as a deployed US Navy intelligence officer. He can be reached at dave.hanaman@curavitclinicalresearch.com
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