Electric Vehicle Boom Threatens Supply of Vital Bipolar Disorder Medication in Japan
The global boom in electric vehicles is causing concern for the availability of a crucial medication in Japan. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, a major producer of lithium carbonate tablets used to treat bipolar disorder, has announced plans to halt production due to potential shortages and price hikes for lithium, driven by increased demand for electric vehicle batteries.
Lithium carbonate tablets are a vital treatment for manic episodes of bipolar disorder, a condition that carries a high risk of suicide if not properly managed. However, the soaring demand for lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, is threatening the supply and affordability of these lifesaving drugs.
The market price for lithium carbonate surged to USD 69 per kilogram in December 2022, more than double from the end of 2021. This increase is largely due to the global electric vehicle boom, which is expected to drive demand for lithium sevenfold by 2030 compared to 2021 in a net-zero carbon emissions scenario. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, one of the few companies in Japan producing these tablets, has cited these factors in its decision to end production and sales around March 2025.
The potential halt in production of lithium carbonate tablets by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma raises serious concerns about the availability and affordability of this crucial medication in Japan. With limited alternative producers and uncertain ability to meet increased demand, patients and healthcare providers alike are left grappling with the implications of this global trend on local healthcare.
