The 18th DIA China Annual Meeting 2026 was held from May 13 (Wed) to 16 (Sat), 2026 at the Shanghai Zhangjiang Science Hall.
On May 15 (Fri) (Day 2), the Japan session titled “Latest Trends in Pharmaceutical Regulation and Clinical Development in Japan” (日本药品监管与临床研发的最新趋势) was held to “provide Chinese professionals involved in drug development, regulatory affairs, and business development with practical insights—including the latest information on Japan’s drug regulations, clinical trials, and market environment—to assist them in entering the Japanese market and formulating global drug development strategies.”
This session was organized and operated by “Drug Research and Development (R&D) Expert” (医药研发达人) with support from DIA China, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA), CSPC (石药集团), and other organizations.
This was the third Japan-related session organized by Drug R&D Expert since 2023. Following the previous session in 2025, we welcomed Prof. Yoshiaki UYAMA, Associate Executive Director, PMDA as the keynote speaker and panelist. In addition, Mr. Tatsuya KOYAMA (Chair, Asian Committee, JPMA) took the stage as a speaker and panelist, while Mr. Takahito HINO (Head of Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Japan) and Mr. Minghui LI (Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Development Division, CSPC) joined as panelists, with Mr. Tetsuomi TAKANO (Editor-in-Chief, Drug R&D Expert) serving as moderator.
Although the venue for the Japan session was not a large room, we had approximately 50 local Chinese participants, nearly filling the seats. We received many questions from the audience, and the session featured passionate presentations and lively discussions for a full 90 minutes.
This year, international relations have been strained, with conflicts breaking out between nations in many parts of the world. We believe that successfully hosting the Japan Session as part of the grand DIA China Annual Meeting held in Shanghai in May 2026, which drew between 8,000 and 10,000 participants, was a significant achievement for stakeholders in both China and Japan.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters from both countries who helped bring this session to a successful conclusion.
