Merck’s Lab Closure Harms Japan’s Drug-Making Goals – Japanese Cabinet Official

Executive Summary

A Japanese official said U.S.-based Merck's decision to close its research laboratory in Japan is a blow to the government's effort to make the country one of the world's largest drug makers. Merck, Pfizer, Novartis AG and GlaxoSmithKline have closed labs recently, in most cases moving them to other Asian nations. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, the Cabinet's policy adviser, said the government plan to double drug production and attract foreign makers will be hampered by the closings. Japan's goal is to be developer of a quarter of the world's new drugs. (Click here for more