No longer just a dream! Thailand's Ministry of Public Health is joining forces with leading medical institutions to accelerate the development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) and stem cell toward high-level medicine for severe disease treatments. The cooperation aims to provide both Thai and foreign patients access to world-class medical treatments and boost national economy with targeted annual revenue by 1.5 billion THB.
Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, announced on 19 February 2025 that medical faculties of Chulalongkorn University, Ramathibodi Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, and Prince of Songkla University, along with key departments of the Ministry of Public Health, signed a commitment to advance ATMPs development. The goal is to enhance accessibility to standardised ATMPs, stimulate the high-value biotechnology economy, stimulate income and position Thailand as medical hub in the region.
Presently, research on ATMPs, which are medicinal products comprise of gene therapy, stem cells, and tissue-engineered components, are occurring and succeeding worldwide. These advanced products stand out with leaps of medical developments such as treatment for genetic disorders that currently have no cure or severe diseases in patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. The cost of these medicinal products ranges from $100,000 to $1 million USD (approximately 3 to 30 million THB) per treatment.
In 2024, the global ATMPs market was valued at approximately $22.8 billion USD (according to Dimension Market Research). To ensure that Thailand develops ATMPs that meet international standards and drive national progress, the country must accelerate research and regulatory approvals. The goal for 2025 is to make ATMPs treatments more accessible to both Thai and foreign patients through an efficient medicine research approval process.
"By 2026, at least 2 ATMPs products developed and manufactured in Thailand are expected to be approved for market entry. The Ministry of Public Health, along with medical faculties of Chulalongkorn University, Ramathibodi Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, and Prince of Songkla University, recognises the urgency of advancing standardised ATMPs to ensure fair and ethical access for all patients. Hence, we signed this commitment to develop ATMPs on 19 February 2025, reinforcing our dedication to fostering research, production, and responsible use of ATMPs that is up to standards. To enhance ethical accessibility for patients, uphold human rights, and strengthen Thailand’s global competitiveness. We aim to offer ATMPs treatments and research in five pilot areas under the Department of Medical Services, Department of Disease Control, Office of the Permanent Secretary of Public Health, and Department of Medical Sciences. Along with establishment of a one-stop ATMPs service centre to facilitate approval process for ATMPs research and production. The committee believes that this initiative will contribute approximately 1.5 billion THB per year to Thailand’s economy," said the Minister.