Avalere Health has launched a Japan office in Tokyo, expanding its global healthcare advisory and commercialisation footprint with a full-service offering for Japanese biopharmaceutical companies.
The new office brings together advisory, medical and marketing capabilities, with a focus on supporting clients across the product lifecycle. Avalere Health said the Japan team will include market access, medical and marketing specialists, alongside strategic consulting expertise.
The expansion comes as Japan’s healthcare market continues to face both commercial opportunity and structural pressure. The company pointed to growth in oncology, diabetes, immunology and rare disease as areas of demand, while also noting challenges linked to Japan’s rapidly ageing society, patient financial barriers and rural access gaps.
For biopharmaceutical companies, Japan remains a strategically important but complex market. Product launches require careful navigation of regulatory expectations, pricing considerations, physician engagement, patient access and post-launch value demonstration. Avalere Health Japan is positioned to support these requirements through an integrated model rather than a single-function service offering.
The Japan operation will be led by Junji Yokokawa, described by the company as an industry veteran and IPG veteran. He will work with a team structured to combine healthcare marketing, market access and medical expertise for clients operating in the Japanese market.
Avalere Health said the team will combine local knowledge of Japan’s healthcare environment with global best practices. This approach is intended to help biopharmaceutical companies address product launch complexity, support market access planning, strengthen medical communication and deliver culturally attuned engagement with healthcare stakeholders.
The company also noted that the Tokyo-based team will be supported by Avalere Health’s global leadership, including experience in building networks and agencies across the Asia-Pacific region. CEO Amar Urhekar previously spent five years as President, Japan and EVP Asia Pacific with McCann Healthcare Worldwide, alongside additional senior regional roles.
Avalere Health’s entry into Japan strengthens its regional presence while giving Japanese biopharmaceutical clients access to an integrated advisory, medical and marketing platform. The next phase will depend on how effectively the company can translate its global model into Japan’s specific healthcare, regulatory and commercial environment.
