Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1589
2009-07-13 08:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
U.S.-JAPAN WORKSHOP PROMOTES COLLABORATION TO
how-toVZCZCXRO5523 PP RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHKO #1589 1940841 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 130841Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4533 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 5223 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA PRIORITY 2719 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 7550 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 9029 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 5740 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3566
UNCLAS TOKYO 001589
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J AND OES/IHB
HHS PASS TO NIH/NCI
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSTH ECON PGOV SOCI CASC JA
SUBJECT: U.S.-JAPAN WORKSHOP PROMOTES COLLABORATION TO
IMPROVE LIVES OF CANCER PATIENTS
UNCLAS TOKYO 001589
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J AND OES/IHB
HHS PASS TO NIH/NCI
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSTH ECON PGOV SOCI CASC JA
SUBJECT: U.S.-JAPAN WORKSHOP PROMOTES COLLABORATION TO
IMPROVE LIVES OF CANCER PATIENTS
1. (SBU) Summary. Embassy Tokyo, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and others hosted a workshop July 8 to
promote better U.S.-Japan collaboration in cancer clinical
trials. Nearly one hundred participants from academia,
industry, government, and the media discussed how to
strengthen capacities for clinical trials in Japan and how to
develop partnerships between U.S. and Japanese researchers
and institutions to improve the lives of cancer patients in
both countries. Based on the results of the workshop and
follow-on meetings with Japanese politicians and GOJ
officials, Emboffs and NCI officials developed a list of
action items to increase collaboration in clinical trials
with Japan. The NCI representatives held a separate
on-the-record briefing with Japanese media. End summary.
2. (SBU) Embassy Tokyo Economic Section, the Tokyo American
Center, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI),the Japan
National Cancer Center, and the Academy of Cancer Experts
joined forces to sponsor a daylong workshop to increase
U.S.-Japan collaboration in cancer clinical trials. The
workshop produced a frank dialogue on the need to expand the
capacity for such clinical trials in Japan and the current
obstacles to doing so. Attendees included senior officials
of NCI's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, officials from
the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW),
representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, science
journalists, and leading Japanese clinicians and researchers
from a number of institutes and universities.
3. (SBU) Dr. Edward Trimble and Dr. Naoko Takebe of NCI
explained the U.S. model for clinical trials and outlined the
benefits of international collaboration in such trials. The
benefits noted include: 1) larger samples that lead to
improved treatments; 2) the ability to identify patients with
particular genetic characteristics and thus to design
targeted therapy techniques; 3) the promotion of widespread
international adoption of new drugs and research findings;
and 4) the promotion of investigator-initiated trials of
drugs for rare types of cancer that pharmaceutical companies
might not otherwise sponsor.
4. (SBU) Workshop participants pointed out the following
impediments to effective clinical trials in Japan: 1) slow
approval for new drugs; 2) lack of trial facilities and
trained investigators; 3) overburdened medical staff; 4) high
cost of drug trials; 5) poor communication between research
institutions and industry; 6) resistance to clinical trials
by some patients and patient groups; 7) a national health
insurance system that does not support mixed treatment
schemes; and 8) a hierarchical doctor-patient relationship in
which physicians often lack interest in patient-oriented
research. (Note. Japan has long lagged behind other advanced
industrialized countries in the number of clinical drug
trials. However, in 2007 MHLW pledged to reduce the time
needed for new drug approvals by 2011, in part by supporting
the efficient implementation of global clinical trials. End
note.)
5. (SBU) Dr. Trimble and Dr. Takebe reported coming away
from the workshop and follow-on meetings with MHLW, the
Cabinet Office, and Diet members with a much stronger
understanding of the Japanese institutional and regulatory
framework governing clinical trials. Action items from the
meetings and workshop include expanding collaboration between
NCI and Japanese pharmaceutical companies on drug
development, initiating collaboration between NCI and
Japanese research centers in preclinical and early phase
clinical evaluation of new cancer drugs, expanding
collaboration between NCI and Tokyo University's Riken
Institute in pharmacogenomic studies, and initiating possible
personnel and information exchanges between Japanese and
American cancer and patient advocacy groups.
6. (SBU) In addition to the workshop, Dr. Trimble and Dr.
Takebe held an on-the-record press briefing attended by eight
journalists, including representatives of major public
broadcaster NHK and widest-circulation daily Yomiuri Shimbun.
POST
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J AND OES/IHB
HHS PASS TO NIH/NCI
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSTH ECON PGOV SOCI CASC JA
SUBJECT: U.S.-JAPAN WORKSHOP PROMOTES COLLABORATION TO
IMPROVE LIVES OF CANCER PATIENTS
1. (SBU) Summary. Embassy Tokyo, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and others hosted a workshop July 8 to
promote better U.S.-Japan collaboration in cancer clinical
trials. Nearly one hundred participants from academia,
industry, government, and the media discussed how to
strengthen capacities for clinical trials in Japan and how to
develop partnerships between U.S. and Japanese researchers
and institutions to improve the lives of cancer patients in
both countries. Based on the results of the workshop and
follow-on meetings with Japanese politicians and GOJ
officials, Emboffs and NCI officials developed a list of
action items to increase collaboration in clinical trials
with Japan. The NCI representatives held a separate
on-the-record briefing with Japanese media. End summary.
2. (SBU) Embassy Tokyo Economic Section, the Tokyo American
Center, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI),the Japan
National Cancer Center, and the Academy of Cancer Experts
joined forces to sponsor a daylong workshop to increase
U.S.-Japan collaboration in cancer clinical trials. The
workshop produced a frank dialogue on the need to expand the
capacity for such clinical trials in Japan and the current
obstacles to doing so. Attendees included senior officials
of NCI's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, officials from
the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW),
representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, science
journalists, and leading Japanese clinicians and researchers
from a number of institutes and universities.
3. (SBU) Dr. Edward Trimble and Dr. Naoko Takebe of NCI
explained the U.S. model for clinical trials and outlined the
benefits of international collaboration in such trials. The
benefits noted include: 1) larger samples that lead to
improved treatments; 2) the ability to identify patients with
particular genetic characteristics and thus to design
targeted therapy techniques; 3) the promotion of widespread
international adoption of new drugs and research findings;
and 4) the promotion of investigator-initiated trials of
drugs for rare types of cancer that pharmaceutical companies
might not otherwise sponsor.
4. (SBU) Workshop participants pointed out the following
impediments to effective clinical trials in Japan: 1) slow
approval for new drugs; 2) lack of trial facilities and
trained investigators; 3) overburdened medical staff; 4) high
cost of drug trials; 5) poor communication between research
institutions and industry; 6) resistance to clinical trials
by some patients and patient groups; 7) a national health
insurance system that does not support mixed treatment
schemes; and 8) a hierarchical doctor-patient relationship in
which physicians often lack interest in patient-oriented
research. (Note. Japan has long lagged behind other advanced
industrialized countries in the number of clinical drug
trials. However, in 2007 MHLW pledged to reduce the time
needed for new drug approvals by 2011, in part by supporting
the efficient implementation of global clinical trials. End
note.)
5. (SBU) Dr. Trimble and Dr. Takebe reported coming away
from the workshop and follow-on meetings with MHLW, the
Cabinet Office, and Diet members with a much stronger
understanding of the Japanese institutional and regulatory
framework governing clinical trials. Action items from the
meetings and workshop include expanding collaboration between
NCI and Japanese pharmaceutical companies on drug
development, initiating collaboration between NCI and
Japanese research centers in preclinical and early phase
clinical evaluation of new cancer drugs, expanding
collaboration between NCI and Tokyo University's Riken
Institute in pharmacogenomic studies, and initiating possible
personnel and information exchanges between Japanese and
American cancer and patient advocacy groups.
6. (SBU) In addition to the workshop, Dr. Trimble and Dr.
Takebe held an on-the-record press briefing attended by eight
journalists, including representatives of major public
broadcaster NHK and widest-circulation daily Yomiuri Shimbun.
POST