In Memoriam: Unsung Hero, Dr. Tatsuya Kondo

Nov 16

Remembering the former PMDA chief executive and how he changed medicine in Japan

By C Bryan Jones

One year ago, we featured Dr. Tatsuya Kondo on the cover of The ACCJ Journal. The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) had recognized him for his contributions to the healthcare industry with the 2020 ACCJ Outstanding Achievement Award. Dr. Kondo played a key role in Japan’s healthcare efforts as chief executive of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) from 2008 to 2019. Sadly, he passed away on September 26 after a battle with prostate cancer. ACCJ members shared thoughts and memories with The ACCJ Journal about what Dr. Kondo meant to them and the industry.

Strong Supporter

“We are all deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news of Dr. Kondo’s passing and would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family,” said Zimmer Biomet G.K. Executive Officer and Chairman Kazuya Ogawa, who is also chairperson of the American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD), adding that the AMDD Executive Committee offered a silent prayer for his soul at its October meeting.

“Dr. Kondo was respected as a strong supporter of the need to resolve the medical device lag issues. His thoughtful, sharply focused actions, always led to a quick resolution of serious lag problems. I personally recall intense discussions with him about more than 300 files of outstanding orthopedic reviews on hand at the PMDA, just as some 100 new applications were coming in. He promptly organized a task force to tackle the issues and cleaned them up in a very short time frame. He demonstrated great leadership during his time at the PMDA, and we feel very honored to have had opportunities to work with him.”

Man of Results

ACCJ Governor James Feliciano, who serves as chair of the Japan-based Executive Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, highlighted some of the results.

“Dr. Kondo was nothing short of a Japanese hero. Through his untiring efforts over so many years, he transformed the PMDA into a premier regulatory review and approval body,” he said. “We can look at the results in terms of months of review, number of new products approved, or the elimination of the drug lag compared with Western countries. However, the real measurement should be the number of Japanese patients who received access to lifesaving and life-changing innovative pharmaceutical medicine. Kondo-san is the unsung hero for so many patients in Japan.”

Leader of Change

Simone Thomsen, president and general manager of Eli Lilly Japan K.K. and ACCJ governor–Kansai, praised his leadership.

“We would like to express our deepest sympathy on the passing of Dr. Tatsuya Kondo, chief executive emeritus of the PMDA. He was truly a great leader for Japan who advanced our efforts to eliminate the drug lag for Japanese patients,” she said.

“Under Dr. Kondo’s leadership, regulatory science was truly developed and incorporated into the PMDA’s review, which yielded greater transparency for the industry. We appreciate the opportunity to have had the chance to work with him.”

Warm and Supportive

ACCJ Vice President and former PhRMA Japan Representative Amy Jackson, who is APAC senior director of government affairs and policy at Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., said: “Dr. Kondo had a powerful and long-term impact on the Japanese healthcare system. Countless Japanese patients got early access to needed, lifesaving medicines thanks to his vision and efforts to make the PMDA a truly world-class regulatory system. Not only was Dr. Kondo a great leader, he was also an excellent ambassador between the PMDA and international stakeholders. I so fondly remember the many times PhRMA had meetings with him and his team. Dr. Kondo would always walk into the PMDA conference room with a big smile on his face. He would greet his international visitors with great warmth and would earnestly urge them to share, without reservation, any comments or concerns they had about the Japanese regulatory system. He will be greatly missed.”

Thank You

ACCJ Healthcare Committee Co-chair John Carlson summed up Dr. Kondo’s support of the chamber. “He was no stranger at the ACCJ. During the course of his career at the PMDA, he visited the chamber on numerous occasions to share his thoughts on the future of the agency and exchange opinions with members of the Healthcare Committee," he recalled. “His commitment to public–private partnership was compelling. The ACCJ extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Kondo and condolences to his family. He was a transformational healthcare leader.”