About PAGJa

The Group was established in 1989 as the “NONMEM Study Group,” the predecessor of this society, with the aim of introducing a pharmacokinetic analysis method for Population Pharmacokinetics (PPK), which was almost unknown in Japan at that time, and to widely disseminate and utilize the method in Japan. At that time, “NONMEM”, an analysis program developed by Prof. Sheiner & Prof. Beal of UCSF, was the only methodology available, so we named our activities the NONMEM Study Group. Since then, the name of the group has been changed to the “Population Approach Group in Japan” to promote the study and development of PPK analysis, not only NONMEM, since the 11th meeting held in 1995. Subsequently, we expanded the scope not only to population analysis but to the entire field of pharmacometrics, with the aim of contributing to research presentations and discussions regarding methodologies and their applications, as well as to promotion and enlightenment. Starting from the 37th meeting in 2021, we have begun new activities under the name “Pharmacometric Approach Group in Japan”.

Goals

A systematic and rational understanding of the quantitative relationships between dose and pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety in patients, as well as the factors influencing variability, is essential for drug development, providing important information that is useful for the appropriate use of drugs in clinical practice. To advance the multinational use of clinical development data, clarify appropriate dosing regimens in special populations, and promote individualized treatment for each patient, it is considered essential to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. PAGJa aims to contribute to the collection and analysis of this information using pharmacometric approaches such as population pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationships, as well as to investigate various related issues and promote their dissemination and development.

Bylaws

Bylaws of Pharmacometric Approach Group in Japan
(Version 13, Revised on 18th December 2025) (Japanese)