Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Japanese government aims for an 80% or more volume share and 65% or more cost share for generic equivalents (GEs) by 2029, but adoption remains low for topical treatments. Heparinoid preparations are widely used moisturizers, but their increasing demand driven by original brand-name drug preference for cosmetic use has become a social issue. This study evaluated long-term prescription trends of heparinoid preparations and analyzed their GE market share from fiscal year (FY)2014 to FY2024.
METHODS: Using a Japanese claims database (DeSC Healthcare), we analyzed annual heparinoid prescription data (ATC code: C05BA01) per 1,000 enrollees, including patient and prescription counts from April 2014 to March 2025. The annual GE shares by drug cost and volume were calculated as the cost or volume of generic drugs divided by the total cost or volume of heparinoids. GE shares were also analyzed by age and sex.
RESULTS: Demand for heparinoid preparations grew rapidly. Patients receiving prescriptions per 1,000 enrollees rose from 68.2 in FY2014 to 104.7 in FY2024, and the prescription count increased 1.8 times (from 169.7 to 304.2). The GE volume share grew from 28.2% in FY2014 to 51.2% in FY2019, and reached 66.4% in FY2024. Although the GE cost share stagnated around 30% between FY2019 and FY2023 despite the volume growth, both volume and cost shares increased simultaneously in FY2024, with the cost share reaching 35.2%. GE volume and cost shares were lower in patients under 65 years old and slightly lower in females.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Japan’s GE market share increased annually, but still misses the government’s goal. The simultaneous share increase in FY2024 may reflect the initial impact of the new October 2024 policy on shifting patient preference. However, the gap between volume and cost shares highlights structural challenges in reducing drug spending, necessitating further observation of future trends.