Characteristics of Asian Participation in Multi-regional Clinical Trials Reviewed for Drug Approval in Japan: Opportunities for Collaboration Between South-East Asia, East Asia, and Japan

Although the percentage of multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) submitted for drug approval in Japan increased significantly since the 2007 publication of the regulatory guideline, "Basic principles on global clinical trials", strategic collaborations between Asian countries will be important to promote MRCTs in accordance with the ICH E17 guideline published in 2017. In this study, characteristics of MRCTs reviewed for drug approval in Japan, especially those with participation by South-East Asia and East Asia, were investigated to explore opportunities for collaborations on global drug development in Asia. More than 90% of reviewed trials were conducted as global MRCTs. In addition to Japan, South-East Asia has participated in various types of MRCTs in terms of total numbers of subjects and countries. However, South-East Asia participation was lower in large-size MRCTs (total sample size & GE; 1000) than in middle- (500 & LE; total sample size < 1000) and small-size MRCTs (total sample size < 500). Furthermore, similar clinical trials for the same indications to the MRCTs without South-East Asia were rarely conducted separately in South-East Asia. Participation of other Asian countries did not affect the percentage of Japanese subjects enrolled in an MRCT, but did significantly increase the percentage of participating Asian subjects. These results suggest that additional opportunities for collaboration on MRCTs may be possible between Japan and other Asian countries, especially more collaborations with South-East Asia in the large-size MRCTs. More data of Asian populations from MRCTs will be useful for exploring an important ethnic factor affecting drug response, and will provide a sound scientific basis in considering the application of the pooled data concept in Asia, as described in the ICH E17 guideline.