German firm to help push turmeric meds
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) signed a pact with a German company yesterday to produce a turmeric extract-based medicine called Antiox, believed to be the first such medicine of its kind, in a bid to enter the European Union market.
The GPO signed the confidentiality agreement with Bionorica SE. The deal is expected to help ensure the Thai agency’s products comply with EU drug standards.
Dr Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the GPO’s board, said the organisation recently visited the company in German and saw an opportunity to expand Thailand’s herbal drug market to the EU.
“But to reach the goal it is necessary to have ‘made in Thailand’ products that are in line with EU drug standards, regarded as the world’s highest,” he said.
Herbal products are becoming more popular in Europe amid a backlash against what are seen as overprescribed antibiotics, leading people to become resistant to them.
The value of the European market for herbal medicine stood at 1.84 trillion baht in 2017, 23% of which came from Germany, the GOP said.
The EU is the world’s biggest market for herbs and chemical drug extracts including turmeric.
Withoon Danwiboon, the GPO’s managing director, said the cooperation would hasten the entry of Thai herbal medicine into the EU.
“The whole production process from the time the plants are harvested to production will be done under the EU drug standard requirements, to ensure safety and proper sanitation,” he said.
Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and is used in treating ailments like osteoarthritis. Proponents claim it can strengthen red blood cells and reduce the risk of heart failure in patients who have had a bypass.
Prof Michael A Popp, CEO of Bionorica SE, said that in order to push Thai herbal drugs onto the EU market, they must not only be high quality and effective but also safe.
He said Thailand should explore other markets like Russia, South Africa and Japan.
The Ministry of Public Health has set a goal of making Thailand a regional hub for herbal products.
The market is tipped to double to 360 billion baht by 2021.