US drug-price policy raises concern over access to new medicines in Japan

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  The Trump administration’s proposed most-favored-nation policy would bring US drug prices closer to prices in other developed countries.

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  The policy raises concern that drug companies may avoid launching new medicines in Japan to prevent low prices in the large US market.

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  Toyo Keizai says the issue reflects a broader question about which countries pay for pharmaceutical innovation.

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  The article says high US drug prices have helped fund new-drug development, while Japan and Europe have restrained prices through public systems.

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  It warns that Japan could lose access to new medicines and weaken its drug-development base.

Who

The Trump administration is advancing the policy; pharmaceutical companies and patients in Japan could be affected.

What

The MFN policy would lower US drug prices toward the lowest levels in developed countries, raising concerns about access to new medicines in Japan.

When

The article is dated October 13, 2026; its text gives a publication time of October 14, 2026, at 06:00.

Where

The United States, Japan and other developed countries.

Why

The policy aims to bring US prices closer to prices elsewhere. The article says the US argues it should not continue bearing a larger share of drug-development costs.

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