ICH Culture: Its Maintenance and Development

The founding industry members (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations [EFPIA], Japanese Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association [JPMA], and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America [PhRMA]) of the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) have a 25-year track record of the contribution to ICH. Given that further globalization of ICH is expected, we should value this legacy and maintain the current ICH culture and its principles of “benefit to the patients first” and “science-based approach,” through which industry members would ensure transparency and objectivity in their ICH activities. In order to maintain and develop the culture of the ICH and its current momentum, a 2-way approach is important: (1) sharing common views through dialogues among leaders of each industry association, such as through the Industry Executive Council, and (2) spreading the values through grassroots activities involving wider stakeholders in global forums such as DIA, as platforms for sharing the knowledge, views, and culture of ICH across the globe.