Thailand strengthens vaccine security, eyes ASEAN biopharma leadership

Thailand is strengthening its vaccine security and accelerating its ambition to become Southeast Asia’s leading biopharmaceutical hub through the National Biopharmaceutical Facility (NBF), a state-backed center designed to support research, development, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production, and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services.

Ahead of CPHI South East Asia 2026, Thailand welcomed an international media delegation to the National Biopharmaceutical Facility at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Bangkok, providing a firsthand look at the country’s integrated biopharmaceutical ecosystem—from laboratory research and bioprocess development to analytical testing, GMP manufacturing, and technology transfer.

The media tour, organized by Informa Markets (Thailand), highlighted Thailand’s growing capabilities in attracting investment, fostering innovation, and expanding biopharmaceutical manufacturing across the ASEAN region.

The showcase comes as Southeast Asia’s biopharmaceutical industry is poised for rapid expansion. According to IMARC Group, the regional market, valued at US$6.7 billion in 2025, is projected to nearly double to US$12.8 billion by 2034, fueled by rising healthcare spending, ageing populations, increasing chronic diseases, supportive government policies, and advances in biotechnology.

Against this backdrop, Thailand is investing heavily in national biopharmaceutical infrastructure to strengthen its competitiveness and establish itself as a regional center for innovation and advanced manufacturing.

National infrastructure for the future

Located within the KMUTT Bangkhuntien Science and Industrial Park—Thailand’s first University Technology Park—the National Biopharmaceutical Facility serves as a strategic national infrastructure supporting the country’s next-generation life sciences industry.

Backed by more than US$80 million in investments covering facilities, equipment, and manufacturing infrastructure, the NBF is set to become Thailand’s first state-owned Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) dedicated to developing and producing clinical- and research-grade biopharmaceuticals under GMP standards.

Beyond manufacturing, the facility supports technology transfer, production scale-up, and the localization of advanced biopharmaceutical technologies, helping reduce dependence on imported biologics while strengthening national vaccine security and regional manufacturing capacity.

“The National Biopharmaceutical Facility is more than a research center,” KMUTT officials said. “It is a strategic national infrastructure that bridges scientific research with industrial competitiveness and supports the sustainable growth of Thailand’s biopharmaceutical industry.”

Strengthening vaccine security

During the visit, Dr. Warinthorn Songkasiri, Vice President for Research Strategy at KMUTT and Acting Director of the National Biopharmaceutical Facility, outlined the NBF’s role in enhancing Thailand’s vaccine security and strengthening the country’s research, development, and manufacturing capabilities for biopharmaceutical products.

She said the facility is designed to improve Thailand’s preparedness for future public health emergencies while developing scientific expertise, advanced technologies, skilled professionals, and stronger partnerships among government agencies, universities, hospitals, and private industry.

The initiative also seeks to expand collaboration across ASEAN, supporting regional resilience in vaccine and biologics manufacturing.

Three centers of excellence

The National Biopharmaceutical Facility integrates three specialized centers that support every stage of biopharmaceutical development.

The Bioprocess Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) focuses on process development, optimization, manufacturing scale-up, GMP-compliant cell banking, technology transfer, and workforce training, helping researchers and biotechnology companies translate laboratory discoveries into commercial production.

The Biopharmaceutical Characterization Laboratory (BPCL), operating under ISO/IEC 17025, is recognized as ASEAN’s first dedicated biopharmaceutical characterization laboratory. It provides analytical testing, product characterization, quality assessment, and regulatory support to meet international standards.

Completing the ecosystem is the GMP Production Facility, which supports pilot-scale manufacturing of clinical research-grade biopharmaceutical products using microbial, mammalian cell, and single-use technology platforms. Its capabilities include aseptic filling, process validation, pilot production, and manufacturing scale-up.

Together, the three facilities provide Thailand with an integrated platform covering research, analytical characterization, pilot manufacturing, and commercial readiness—bridging the gap between scientific discovery and industrial production.

Officials said the ecosystem enables universities, biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and international partners to accelerate product development, improve technology transfer, reduce development costs, and strengthen Thailand’s position as one of ASEAN’s emerging biopharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing hubs.