Thailand Unveils First Locally Made Cancer Drug

Picture courtesy of Thai PBS

Thailand has proudly unveiled Imcranib 100, its first locally developed targeted cancer drug, thanks to the pioneering efforts of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana.

This breakthrough comes as a part of her vision to provide effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects, focusing on attacking cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.

Targeted therapy, a modern approach in cancer treatment, allows for more personalised plans tailored to individual patients' needs, as noted by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA). This innovation aims to address the limited access to crucial medicines for cancer patients, significantly reducing reliance on costly drug imports.

In 2020, HRH Princess Chulabhorn established a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Sattahip District, Chon Buri, under her royal initiative.

This plant, certified to international GMDP PIC/s standards, is Thailand’s first cancer drug manufacturing site, encompassing the entire production process from research to industrial scale. 

Imcranib 100, registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 20, is the culmination of these efforts. Containing 100 milligrams of Imatinib, it is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting specific cancer cells.

The drug is used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute leukaemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), and dermal fibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Now available at Chulabhorn Hospital, Imcranib 100 dramatically reduces treatment costs and enhances access for Thai patients. This landmark achievement strengthens Thailand's pharmaceutical capabilities, laying a foundation for future drug development and bolstering national drug security.

Moreover, the Chulabhorn Research Institute has introduced Herdara, Thailand’s first targeted biological drug developed without foreign technology transfer. Registered with the FDA on the same day as Imcranib 100, Herdara represents a major step forward in achieving biopharmaceutical self-reliance.

With these advancements, Thailand's capacity in pharmaceutical formulation, manufacturing, and regulation sees a significant boost, promising a sustainable improvement in public health and a brighter future for cancer treatment. 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-07-12