PTT, GPO team up on cancer med manufacture
National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc has partnered with the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to develop Thailand’s first cancer pharmaceutical factory at a total cost of 2.5 billion baht.
The two state enterprises signed an agreement yesterday in Bangkok for joint development of the factory, with the aim of curbing cancer medical bills by 50%.
The factory will be located in PTT We Cozi, PTT’s flagship industrial estate in Rayong, and construction will likely begin in 2022 with the first doses doled out in 2027.
PTT president and chief executive Auttapol Rerkpiboon said PTT will provide 2.5 billion baht for upfront construction costs, while the GPO will pay rent to PTT while operating the factory.
The factory will have a capacity of roughly 30 million pills per year.
Mr Auttapol said the cooperation to develop a cancer medicine factory is a stepping stone to improving public health, science and technology, as well as the pharmaceutical sector and medical research in Thailand.
“The factory will also be designed to serve as a cancer medicine production base for Southeast Asia,” he said.
GPO managing director Withoon Danwiboon said the facility will provide resources and knowledge for research and ease technology transfers with the world’s leading cancer drug manufacturers.
The factory will focus on covering all types of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and targeted therapy. It will produce tyrosine kinase inhibitors, small molecules that can directly bind to the target within a cell, and monoclonal antibodies.
The factory will meet international standards for production quality for safety standards and advanced production technology, Dr Withoon said.
“This factory is expected to curb
Thailand’s dependency on imported cancer drugs worth more than 21 billion baht, or equivalent to 10% of Thailand’s total imported medicine,” he said. “It will also lead to more access to high-quality and effective drugs.”
In another development, PTT’s board yesterday approved the promotion of Montri Rawanchaikul, executive vice-president for the production asset group at PTT Exploration and Production, to chief executive of PTTEP, replacing Phongsthorn Thavisin, who will retire in October 2021.