The utilization and challenges of Japan's MID‐NET® medical information database network in postmarketing drug safety assessments: A summary of pilot pharmacoepidemiological studies

• Published in: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 601 - 608
• Main Authors: Yamada, Kaori, Itoh, Maori, Fujimura, Yoshiaki, Kimura, Michio, Murata, Koichiro, Nakashima, Naoki, Nakayama, Masaharu, Ohe, Kazuhiko, Orii, Takao, Sueoka, Eizaburo, Suzuki, Takahiro, Yokoi, Hideto, Ishiguro, Chieko, Uyama, Yoshiaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems - statistics & numerical data; Antidiabetics; Antipsychotics; Codeine; Databases, Pharmaceutical - statistics & numerical data; Diabetes mellitus; Drug use; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - epidemiology; Glucose metabolism; Hypocalcemia; Incidence; Japan; Laboratories; Laboratory tests; medical information database; MID‐NET; Monoclonal antibodies; Myocardial infarction; Pharmacoepidemiology; Pharmacovigilance; Pilot Projects; Product safety; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing - methods; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing - statistics & numerical data; real‐world data; regulatory science; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Safety; safety evaluation; Japan; real-world data; safety evaluation; regulatory science; medical information database; MID-NET; pharmacoepidemiology
• ISSN: 1053-8569; 1099-1557
• DOI: 10.1002/pds.4777

Purpose To examine the potential role of Medical Information Database Network (MID‐NET®), a newly established Japanese medical information database network, in postmarketing drug safety assessments through the characterization of its advantages and limitations in five pilot studies. Methods The pilot studies were designed to address three major objectives in postmarketing drug safety assessments, ie, the examination of actual drug utilization, the impact of safety‐related regulatory actions, and drug‐associated risks. The five studies were conducted on the following topics: (a) utilization of codeine‐containing products and its relationship with respiratory depression, (b) impact of a Dear Healthcare Professional letter on hypocalcemia incidence associated with denosumab (Ranmark®) use, (c) risk of acute myocardial infarction associated with antidiabetic drug use, (d) risk of glucose metabolism disorders associated with atypical antipsychotic drug use, and (e) prospective monitoring of abnormal laboratory test results during new drug prescriptions. Results The pilot studies were successfully conducted and demonstrated the value of MID‐NET® in postmarketing drug safety assessments. In particular, the ability to utilize laboratory test results as objective clinical indicators is a major advantage of this database. Potential limitations include a relatively small sample size and a lack of patient‐level data linkages among hospitals. Conclusions MID‐NET® was confirmed to be a valuable database for postmarketing drug safety assessments. The use of laboratory test results to define clinical outcomes may allow more objective and accurate analyses to be conducted. These studies furthered our understanding of the characteristics of MID‐NET®, including its advantages and limitations.