Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical’s ¥457 billion plan to go private is being seen as a prime example of a flight from public markets among Japan’s drugmakers, with analysts expecting more to follow. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/08/companies/buyout-wave-seen-among-japanese-drugmakers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #hisamitsu #salonpas #pharmaceuticals #acquisitions #stocks #tse #pharmaceuticals #health #medicine

Japanese startups have designed chatbot-powered prescription-only apps to help treat a range of medical conditions, such as hypertension, alcohol addiction and insomnia. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/06/japan/science-health/medical-app-chatbot/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #medicine #health #apps #chatbots

Upheaval under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is weakening U.S. public health by fueling disease outbreaks, undermining vaccinations and threatening insurance coverage and drug approvals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/01/05/world/americas-year-of-health-care-chaos/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #robertfkennedyjr #donaldtrump #medicine #vaccinations #health #covid19 #cdc #us #misinformation