BANGKOK, Sept 25 (TNA) – The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) and PTT Pcl, the state-owned Thai oil and gas company join hands to set up the country’s first-ever cancer drug production plant.
Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the contract- signing ceremony between GPO and PTT to jointly develop cancer drug production facilities.
He said more than 80,000 Thai people die of cancer each year. The drug manufacturing plant that can produce medicines including in the form of injections and pellets used in chemotherapy and targeted therapy will reduce the cost burden on drug imports and lower the drug cost by more than 50 per cent.
Currently, he said Thailand imports drugs worth more than 21 billion baht each year.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Auttapol Rerkpiboon said the one –billion-baht cancer drug production plant will be set up at the PTT Wanarom Eco Zone Industries in Rayong province.
After the signing of the contract, the next step is to conduct the detailed feasibility study on a production facility for cancer medicine and active pharmaceutical ingredients. It will take around 14 months.
It is expected that the construction will be able to start in 2022 before commercial production in 2027. (TNA)
