Chiba University Hospital and Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Start Joint Research to Unravel Drug Supply Instability and Quality Issues from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
Chiba University Hospital and Shiratori Pharmaceutical have begun joint research aimed at structuring drug supply instability and quality issues originating from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and proposing a package of countermeasures. The research, spanning from May 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, seeks to resolve challenges in medical settings and ensure a stable supply of pharmaceuticals.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 22:02 (11h 1m after Collected)
Chiba University Hospital (Hospital Director: Seiji Ohtori) is pleased to announce that its Next-Generation Medical Concept Center (Center Director: Kensuke Yoshimura) and Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Satoshi Shiratori, hereinafter Shiratori Pharmaceutical) have commenced joint research from May 1 with the aim of "structuring drug supply instability and quality issues originating from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and presenting a package of countermeasures."
In recent years, drug supply instability and quality issues have emerged, posing challenges that affect medical care and patient対応 in clinical settings. While the supply structure of APIs, the feasibility of alternatives, and quality risks have been considered individually, it is now deemed crucial to organize these issues from the perspective of their impact on medical provision and to enable stakeholders to share response policies. This joint research aims to structurally organize these issues starting from APIs and to create knowledge with implementation in mind.
[Research Methods] (Research Period: May 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027)
* Create a list of drugs affected by supply instability and quality issues based on public information. Simultaneously, attribute information such as pharmacological classifications and substitutability will be added to organize the problem structure.
* Utilize public data from government agencies and other sources to analyze the usage and temporal changes of target drugs, visualizing the extent and concentration of impact by medical treatment area.
* Evaluate the difficulty of substitution approximately, based on usage concentration within the same pharmacological group and the presence or absence of alternative candidates, to organize high-priority items and areas for response.
* Through the above research, present a practical package of countermeasures.
[Expected Effects]
Through this research, drug supply instability and quality issues originating from APIs will be made visible, and a foundation for response will be built under a common understanding among medical institutions, government agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. The knowledge gained is expected to contribute to deepening discussions on the future stable supply of pharmaceuticals and to the formulation of pharmaceutical policies.
Kensuke Yoshimura, Center Director, Next-Generation Medical Concept Center
About the Next-Generation Medical Concept Center:
The Next-Generation Medical Concept Center promotes research that seeks solutions to challenges surrounding clinical settings through data-driven analysis and verification. In this joint research, focusing on drug supply as one of the elements supporting the medical care delivery system, and in collaboration with Professor Shingo Yamazaki of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, we aim to organize and visualize the current state of supply instability and structural issues through data analysis combining pharmaceutical expertise and clinical perspectives.
Satoshi Shiratori, Representative Director and President, Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
About Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:
Shiratori Pharmaceutical has been involved in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, supporting the stable supply of pharmaceuticals for many years, and this year marks its 110th anniversary. This joint research is a participation driven by the desire to organize the challenges of the API supply chain and create knowledge that contributes to problem-solving, based on past experience and in collaboration with the Next-Generation Medical Concept Center. Shiratori Pharmaceutical will continue to contribute to the stable supply of pharmaceuticals and the realization of sustainable medical care.
In recent years, drug supply instability and quality issues have emerged, posing challenges that affect medical care and patient対応 in clinical settings. While the supply structure of APIs, the feasibility of alternatives, and quality risks have been considered individually, it is now deemed crucial to organize these issues from the perspective of their impact on medical provision and to enable stakeholders to share response policies. This joint research aims to structurally organize these issues starting from APIs and to create knowledge with implementation in mind.
[Research Methods] (Research Period: May 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027)
* Create a list of drugs affected by supply instability and quality issues based on public information. Simultaneously, attribute information such as pharmacological classifications and substitutability will be added to organize the problem structure.
* Utilize public data from government agencies and other sources to analyze the usage and temporal changes of target drugs, visualizing the extent and concentration of impact by medical treatment area.
* Evaluate the difficulty of substitution approximately, based on usage concentration within the same pharmacological group and the presence or absence of alternative candidates, to organize high-priority items and areas for response.
* Through the above research, present a practical package of countermeasures.
[Expected Effects]
Through this research, drug supply instability and quality issues originating from APIs will be made visible, and a foundation for response will be built under a common understanding among medical institutions, government agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. The knowledge gained is expected to contribute to deepening discussions on the future stable supply of pharmaceuticals and to the formulation of pharmaceutical policies.
Kensuke Yoshimura, Center Director, Next-Generation Medical Concept Center
About the Next-Generation Medical Concept Center:
The Next-Generation Medical Concept Center promotes research that seeks solutions to challenges surrounding clinical settings through data-driven analysis and verification. In this joint research, focusing on drug supply as one of the elements supporting the medical care delivery system, and in collaboration with Professor Shingo Yamazaki of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, we aim to organize and visualize the current state of supply instability and structural issues through data analysis combining pharmaceutical expertise and clinical perspectives.
Satoshi Shiratori, Representative Director and President, Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
About Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:
Shiratori Pharmaceutical has been involved in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, supporting the stable supply of pharmaceuticals for many years, and this year marks its 110th anniversary. This joint research is a participation driven by the desire to organize the challenges of the API supply chain and create knowledge that contributes to problem-solving, based on past experience and in collaboration with the Next-Generation Medical Concept Center. Shiratori Pharmaceutical will continue to contribute to the stable supply of pharmaceuticals and the realization of sustainable medical care.