Thailand has long been held in high esteem for its medical services and is rightly seen as a primary gateway into Asia and a central player in the region. As such, it is an excellent place to conduct clinical trials.
A Deloitte Access Economics analysis from 2015 shows that an estimated 10.4 billion Baht was spent on clinical trials in Thailand that year. Furthermore, clinical trials contributed approximately 8.8 billion Baht to Thailand’s GDP in 2015 (representing 0.05% of Thailand’s GDP that year). Interest has increased significantly since then.
Here are some key reasons why you should consider Thailand as your clinical trial destination.
Availability of a vast patient pool
In addition to lower costs associated with conducting clinical trials in Asia, Thailand has been proven to have distinct advantages beyond cost savings.
Strong governmental support for clinical research, a strong healthcare system and solid infrastructure all make accessing a vast patient pool across many different disease profiles much easier and more efficient. This makes Thailand a unique epicenter for the development of clinical research, as it can attract a vast number of high quality patients when compared to the US or Europe.
For instance, one trial associated with HIV in the US was faced with a low patient enrolment rate. It then subsequently added Thailand as a trial site, which added an average of four patients per site compared with one per site in the US.
At Clinixir, our expansive network of eight clinical research centers across Thailand can facilitate recruiting and enrolling suitable and qualified patients in a timely manner. This network also enables comprehensive and dynamic data collection and analysis in each phase of a clinical trial.
Highly-skilled research workforce
Thailand boasts a highly-skilled research workforce that is well-trained to conduct clinical research and associated general medical tasks.
A high percentage of pharmacists coupled with a significant presence of research-based pharma companies and CROs (Contract Research Organization) has made Thailand an emergent clinical research hub for Asia and beyond.
Thailand has long been recognized as a world leader in medical issues, and was recently ranked 6th in preparation for the recent Covid-19 pandemic by John Hopkins University’s 2019 Global Health Security Index. This is just one example of how adaptable and responsive the Thai healthcare ecosystem is at responding to emergent diseases given its ability to deploy its highly-skilled research workforce quickly and efficiently when needed.
At Clinixir, we have a team of qualified clinical researchers to ensure our sponsor’s treatment is developed at the highest quality while streamlining regulatory approvals (such as Ethics Committee and the Thai FDA) and market access. Our team members are also well-versed in the intricacies of medical device studies and the therapeutic areas of clinical research, and have worked closely with Clinical Research Centers across Thailand.
High-quality clinical facilities
Historically, sponsors have focused on Western sites due to the common belief that they upheld higher medical standards and had access to more robust and efficient hospital infrastructure. However, Asia is swiftly becoming a desirable location, as many local economies are growing quickly by upgrading their overall medical networks and hospital facilities.
Thailand has state-of-the-art clinical facilities that can ensure a controlled environment where development and testing can take place safely with appropriate oversight. In addition, the cost of conducting clinical trials in Thailand is much cheaper than more developed Asian countries such as South Korea or Japan. In many cases, approval times for initiating clinical research are also generally shorter than in other larger countries in east Asia.
At Clinixir, we understand that developing treatments requires clinical facilities which meet international standards. That is why we partnered with eight renowned academic institutions across Thailand that can offer cross-country clinical trial sites and provide support in all phases of a clinical trial.
Strong investment and governmental support
In the post-pandemic era, the Thai Board of Investment is offering incentives to compensate overseas investors for increased burdens generated by upgrading production facilities to meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. The Thai government has also put in place a regulatory framework to support local research such as the ATMP (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products).
Additionally, the Thailand 4.0 policy has also designated healthcare and wellness services as one of 13 key industries chosen as Thailand’s future engines of growth and has established a goal of developing its medical sector as a recognized global “Medical Hub.”
Within this context, the Ministry of Public Health’s 2016-2025 plans for Thailand to become a worldwide destination for the medical industry in the key areas of wellness, medical products, medical services, and academic activities. This strong general support for medical infrastructure only enhances Thailand’s established workforce and facilities for conducting clinical trials.
The future of Med Hub of Asia and beyond:
For these reasons, Thailand has increasingly become an attractive location for conducting clinical trials. Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand received outstanding recognition for its high-quality healthcare infrastructure and leading expertise in medical developments.
With strong investment and governmental support, we are only just beginning to see Thailand’s potential as a “Medical Hub”. We expect significant advancement in the next few years given its overall priority as part of Thailand 4.0.At Clinixir, we have everything that Thailand’s clinical research industry has to offer – and more. Partner with us today, and let us help you bring your medical innovations to life.
