Placenta Import: Current Status, Challenges, and Preparedness for Domestic Shipment Suspension Risk | TASAKI PHAMA

Current Status and Supply Concerns of Domestic Placenta Products

In recent years, there have been concerns about the supply of domestically manufactured placenta products, especially human placenta products. Specifically, products such as Laennec and Melsmon have experienced temporary shipment suspensions or reduced supply volumes due to manufacturing issues and tightened regulations. These products are used in medical institutions to alleviate symptoms of menopause and improve liver function, and supply shortages may affect the continuation of patient treatment.

In response to this situation, medical institutions are increasingly considering alternative products and exploring ways to continue placenta therapy. At Tasaki Pharma, we aim to contribute to addressing these challenges faced by medical institutions by providing information and suggesting alternative products as a pharmaceutical trading company.

Reasons for Suspension of Placenta Product Shipments

The following are the main reasons for the suspension of placenta product shipments:

• Quality control issues in the manufacturing process
• Shortage of raw material supply
• Changes in manufacturing and sales approval by regulatory authorities
• Aging or disasters at manufacturing facilities

These factors can have a complex impact, making it difficult to ensure a stable supply of placenta products. In particular, human-derived placenta products require stricter management than other pharmaceuticals due to the risk of infection and ethical issues, making their supply more unstable.

Overseas Placenta as an Alternative to Human Placenta

In order to cope with the anxiety about the supply of domestic human placenta products, interest in overseas placenta products is increasing. Overseas, various types of placenta products are used, including not only human placenta but also sheep placenta and horse placenta.

The advantages of overseas placenta products include:

• Diversity of supply sources: Supply risks can be distributed by importing from multiple countries and regions.
• Price competitiveness: Prices may be lower compared to domestic products.
• Unique active ingredients: Overseas placenta may contain unique active ingredients not found in domestic products.

Types and Characteristics of Overseas Placenta

The main types and characteristics of placenta used overseas are as follows:

• Human Placenta: Placenta derived from humans. There is a wealth of data on efficacy and safety, but consideration must be given to the risk of infection and ethical issues.
• Sheep Placenta: Placenta derived from sheep. Rich in amino acids and minerals, it is expected to have beauty effects.
• Horse Placenta: Placenta derived from horses. It has a high content of amino acids and is expected to have antioxidant and whitening effects.
• Pig Placenta: Placenta derived from pigs. It is relatively inexpensive and readily available, and is expected to have moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects.

These placenta products are available in various forms, such as injections, supplements, and cosmetics.

Safety and Efficacy of Overseas Placenta

The safety and efficacy of overseas placenta vary greatly depending on the product. It is important to choose products supplied by reliable manufacturers. It is also recommended to check the approval status by regulatory authorities in each country and the results of clinical trials.

For example, regulatory authorities such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate and approve the safety and efficacy of medicines. Products approved by these agencies are considered to meet certain quality standards.

Points to Note Regarding Importing Overseas Placenta Products

When importing overseas placenta products, the following points should be noted:

• Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act: Placenta products may be regulated as pharmaceuticals under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act. The quantity and uses that can be imported for personal use are limited, so it is necessary to check in advance.
• Tariffs and Consumption Tax: When importing products from overseas, tariffs and consumption tax may be incurred. These costs must be borne in addition to the price of the product.
• Quality and Safety: Some overseas products may not have guaranteed quality or safety. It is important to obtain products from reliable suppliers.
• Counterfeit Products: Counterfeit products are available in overseas markets. To ensure that the product is genuine, it is recommended to purchase from the manufacturer’s website or authorized dealers.

At Tasaki Pharma, we provide pharmaceutical import agency services and also accept consultations regarding the import of overseas placenta products. We will strive to provide appropriate information and support so that medical institutions can use overseas products with peace of mind.

Future Prospects and Challenges of Placenta Therapy

Placenta therapy is expected to have various effects, such as alleviating symptoms of menopause and improving liver function, but there are still many points that have not been fully elucidated regarding its effectiveness and safety. Future research is expected to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of action of placenta therapy in more detail.

Stabilizing the supply of placenta products is also an important issue. In order to cope with the anxiety about the supply of domestic products, it is necessary to secure import routes from overseas and establish a stable domestic production system.

Furthermore, ethical issues related to placenta therapy need to be discussed in more depth. In particular, for human-derived placenta products, it is important to establish an appropriate management system that takes into account the dignity and privacy protection of the provider.

Placenta therapy has the potential to contribute to improving the health and QOL of patients, but it is important for medical professionals, researchers, and patients to cooperate and discuss its effectiveness, safety, and ethical issues, and to pursue better placenta therapy.

We hope that placenta therapy will be established as a safer and more effective treatment through advances in placenta research and the provision of appropriate information.