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The impact of science-intensive drugs on longevity and cure rate: Evidence from new prescription drugs launched in Japan

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  • Nishimura, Junichi
  • Nagaoka, Sadao
  • Yoneyama-Hirozane, Mariko

Abstract

This paper examines how new science-intensive drugs improve the longevity of the population and the cure rate of hospitalized patients (inpatients). We develop a comprehensive longitudinal-disease-level panel data set, matched with drugs with a new molecular entity (NME) launched in Japan and classified by science intensity. Estimates suggest that the increase in the diversity of science-intensive NMEs (or NME stock) used for treating a disease significantly contributed to longevity and to the improvement of the cure rate of inpatients. In contrast, we find that non science-intensive NME stock does not significantly enhance these outcomes. Our results also suggest that controlling for the effects of surgeries does not reduce the effects of science-intensive drugs and that quality of science exploited for the discovery of an NME also plays a role in the effects. We have validated our indicator of science-intensive NMEs as a measure of the contribution of drugs to treatment, based on a survey of physicians. The results show that scientific advancement and exploitation for drug innovations critically contribute to improving human welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Nishimura, Junichi & Nagaoka, Sadao & Yoneyama-Hirozane, Mariko, 2022. "The impact of science-intensive drugs on longevity and cure rate: Evidence from new prescription drugs launched in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:64:y:2022:i:c:s0889158322000132
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2022.101203
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Science intensity; New molecular entity (NME); Disease; Mean age at death; Cure rate of inpatients;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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