Driving clinical study efficiency by using a productivity breakdown model: comparative evaluation of a global clinical study and a similar Japanese study

Transaction Cost Analysis of the New Drug Application Process: A Case Study of a Multinational Pharmaceutical Company in Japan

The aim of this study was to measure the transaction costs of a new drug application (NDA) process in Japan in a case study of a multinational pharmaceutical company. The NDA process was viewed as involving transactions among 3 organizations: the headquarters, the Japanese subsidiary, and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. Transaction costs were calculated by multiplying the time for each transaction by an hourly wage. Work time for the NDA process totaled 14,710.6 hours and was estimated to cost US$558,000 in human resource-related expenditure in the company. The total time for intracompany transactions was 7662.5 hours (52.1% of all transactions), which was similar to that of transactions with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (7048.1 hours, 47.9%). Also found was a press-and-slack procedure in time course observation. In conclusion, the current NDA system in Japan imposes a considerable time and cost burden behind that of the visible official process on a multinational company.

Current situation of clinical trials in Beijing, China

PURPOSE

This study investigated the current quality of clinical trials conducted in China.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to medical doctors belonging to institutes affiliated to Peking University in Beijing, China. The delivery and collection of questionnaires were conducted by a research team from China. Analysis and evaluation were conducted by research teams from both China and Japan.

RESULTS

A total of 145 questionnaires were administered and 117 respondents included the name of the medical institution to which they belonged. A total of 56.3% of the respondents participated in audit and inspection by institutes and 50.5% of the respondents reported receipt of the audit findings. A further 23.6% participated in audits and inspections performed by an external authority and 20.2% reported the receipt of the audit findings.

CONCLUSION

Our research suggests that clinical trials in Beijing are well conducted and are monitored by both institutions and external authorities.