Category: Health

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 4, 2026 Number of comments0
Health Japan Medical

Kissei Pharmaceutical Ordered to Report on Deaths among Tavneos Users

Japan’s health ministry has ordered Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. to report on 20 deaths among users of Tavneos, a vasculitis drug marketed by the company in Japan, health minister Kenichiro Ueno said Friday.
The order was issued on June 19, giving the company, based in the central Japan city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, until July 21 to submit a report. “We’ll continue to consider our response based on a report from the company and future developments in the United States, where the drug was developed,” Ueno said at a press conference.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 17, 2026 1
Disability Health Japan Medical

Kissei Pharmaceutical advises “refrain from use” after 20 deaths after using vasculitis drug

Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that for its vasculitis treatment drug “Tavneos” (generic name: avacopan), 20 deaths have been reported in Japan among patients who took the medication. This figure includes cases where a causal relationship is unclear. On the 15th, the company called on healthcare professionals to refrain from administering the drug to new patients.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 8, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Health Infectious Diseases Japan Medical

Risk of Hantavirus Spread in Japan Low: Health Ministry

The risk of hantavirus spreading in Japan through person-to-person transmission is low, even if infected passengers from a cruise ship linked to a recent outbreak enter the country, the health ministry said Wednesday. The ministry called on the public to remain calm, after three people died in a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. A Japanese national is among passengers on the ship.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 30, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Elderly Health Japan

Japan Govt Calls for Road Map to Medical Payment Hikes

Japan’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday called for a road map to raising out-of-pocket medical payments by patients aged 70 or older to reduce the health insurance premium burden on the working generation. The road map to consolidating their payment rates eventually to a uniform 30 pct should be created, the ministry said at a meeting of a subcommittee of the Fiscal System Council, which advises the finance minister.