Transforming High-Cost Cancer Drugs Into Affordable Generics: A Royal Vision for Fair Cancer Medication

Thanks to the exceptional leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, Thailand is turning costly, high-quality cancer drugs that once sold for tens of thousands of baht into affordable generic medicines.

The latest breakthrough from the Chulabhorn Research Institute features two key biologic drugs tailored specifically for Thai patients:

Imcranib 100, used to treat chronic leukemia, is now priced at just over 100 baht per pill—down from several thousand.

Herdara, a breast cancer treatment, is now significantly more affordable compared to the original 45,000 baht per bottle.

Both drugs are manufactured at the Chulabhorn Royal College facility in Chonburi Province, made especially for the Thai people. This visionary approach has slashed the traditional 10-15 year, multi-billion-baht drug research and development timeline to produce high-efficacy generics domestically, with a clear commitment: 
“Drug prices will no longer block access to life-saving treatment for Thai patients.”

The impact is profound:

✅ Over 12,000 cancer patients per year gain access to effective treatment without financial ruin

✅ Public hospitals slash treatment costs from hundreds of thousands to mere thousands of baht per patient

✅ A historic milestone as Thailand moves towards self-reliance in cancer pharmaceuticals

“As each pill embodies the royal determination to build on the legacy of Her Majesty the Queen Mother and King Rama IX,” said the Chulabhorn research team. They plan to expand efforts with five more targeted medicines by 2030.

For more information: Chulabhorn Research Institute

Link: https://www.cri.or.th/th/