First lot of royally bestowed cancer drugs delivered to NHSO for universal healthcare scheme patients
The Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) has completed the first delivery of Imcranib 100, a royally bestowed targeted cancer medication, to the National Health Security Office’s (NHSO) main distribution hub, paving the way for nationwide access for Universal Coverage Scheme (gold card) patients.
The initiative stems from the benevolence of Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, president of the CRA.
To mark her birthday on July 4, Her Royal Highness has graciously donated 690,000 tablets of the medication under the Royal Cancer Medication Project.
The CRA announced on Wednesday that its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility successfully transferred the inaugural batch of the drug to the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) logistics centre on Tuesday.
The GPO serves as the primary distribution hub for the NHSO.
To ensure the highest standards of safety and efficacy upon reaching patients, the entire warehousing and logistics process is strictly governed by Good Distribution Practice (GDP) protocols.
Under the NHSO’s distribution framework, the GPO will now manage the rollout of Imcranib 100 to healthcare facilities and hospitals across the country, aiming to guarantee equitable access to modern medical treatments.
Imcranib 100 holds the distinction of being the first targeted cancer drug formulated and manufactured domestically in Thailand.
Its production site, the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, is the nation's first oncology pharmaceutical plant to achieve international PIC/S GMDP certification for both manufacturing and distribution.
The drug was formally registered by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on May 20, 2025, and subsequently listed in the Thai Innovation Accounts on March 30, 2026.
Driven by the far-sighted vision of the CRA President, who perceives public health as the cornerstone of national development, the manufacturing facility was established within the grounds of the Phimanmas Palace in 2020.
The plant was conceived to bridge the gap between advanced research and commercial-scale industrial production, ultimately strengthening Thailand's pharmaceutical security, safeguarding domestic supply and curbing reliance on costly imported medicines.
As a targeted therapeutic agent, Imcranib 100 functions by inhibiting tyrosine kinase enzymes, effectively disrupting the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells.
Compared to conventional chemotherapy, the treatment offers highly efficient disease control with significantly lower side effects.
It is indicated for the treatment of several malignancies, including Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), Philadelphia chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (Ph+ ALL), Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) and Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP), a rare form of skin cancer.
The rollout of this first batch represents a significant stride in the upgrading of the Thai public healthcare system, mirroring the royal determination to dismantle financial barriers, elevate quality of life and extend equal opportunities for state-of-the-art medical care to all citizens.
The Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), widely known as the Gold Card or 30-baht scheme, is Thailand’s primary public healthcare program, managed by the National Health Security Office (NHSO).