20 December 2016 - Japan said on Tuesday it will step up the pace and expand the scope of drug price reviews, one of the most aggressive measures it is taking to rein in ballooning healthcare costs for a rapidly ageing nation.

The plans, which follow drastic price cuts for two blockbuster drugs, have been opposed by drugmakers worried about hits to revenue and who argue that frequent reviews will stifle investment by creating greater uncertainty over pricing.

They also come amid a backlash against the high costs of a new wave of medicines for cancer and other serious diseases. U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has promised to "bring down drug prices", while a number of European countries have taken a hard line on treatments deemed not to offer value for money.

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