The Role of Pharmaceutical Universities in Strengthening Japan’s Drug Discovery Capabilities: A Pharmaceutical Industry Perspective

Japan's pharmaceutical industry faces declining global competitiveness despite its historical strength in drug discovery. This paper examines the perspective of research-oriented pharmaceutical companies, focusing on the roles that pharmaceutical universities are expected to fulfill by the pharmaceutical industry. The diversification of therapeutic modalities-from small molecules to antibodies, middle-sized molecules, nucleic acids, and gene/cell therapies-requires new approaches to pharmaceutical research education. Using Chugai Pharmaceutical as a case study, we analyze the human resource composition across different functions, revealing an increasing demand for specialized researchers with Ph.D. degrees and diverse scientific backgrounds. Pharmaceutical companies seek three core qualities in researchers: scientific thinking capability, proactive collaboration skills, and patient-centered mindset. To develop these qualities, pharmaceutical universities should focus on cultivating strong scientific foundations through research experience; engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration with medical, engineering, and information sciences; and maintaining patient-centered perspectives through clinical training. The creation of a robust drug discovery ecosystem requires coordination between academia, pharmaceutical companies, startups, and regulatory authorities. Pharmaceutical universities play a crucial role in developing cutting-edge researchers and creating new drug discovery seeds and modality technologies. By strengthening both research and education in pharmaceutical universities, and fostering industry-academia collaboration, Japan can revitalize its pharmaceutical industry as a key economic sector and continue contributing to global healthcare through innovative medicines.