Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), Egypt’s Pharco Pharmaceuticals, and the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the registration of ravidasvir in Thailand as part of a new combination treatment for hepatitis C.
The aim is to ensure that the treatment is widely available to all individuals in need throughout the country. The safety and efficacy of the combination treatment was demonstrated through the STORM-C clinical trials conducted in Thailand – at Bangkok and Chiang Mai hospitals – and Malaysia by DNDi, in partnership with the governments of both countries. Ravidasvir is the first medicine for hepatitis C developed through South-South collaboration, involving public and private actors committed to delivering an affordable treatment.
‘Today’s MoU signing signifies more than just a technical collaboration—it is a declaration of our shared commitment to building a sustainable healthcare system,’ said Dr Mingkwan Suphannaphong, Managing Director of GPO. ‘In Thailand, more than 800,000 people are still living with hepatitis C and awaiting access to affordable and effective treatment. We must act swiftly and together,’ she added.
Hepatitis C can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer, and death. It also carries major economic and social costs for individuals, families, and the public health system. The disease continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Thailand, where many people living with chronic infection are still undiagnosed or untreated. Thailand aims to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.
The most effective treatments for hepatitis C are direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Due to their extremely high prices (the first DAA was initially priced at USD 84,000 when first introduced in 2013), patient access is severely limited in many low- and middle-income countries. Hepatitis C affects about 50 million people worldwide, but only 20% have had access to treatment. The disease causes around 242,000 deaths per year. Today, prices have decreased, but not enough to guarantee access to treatment for everyone in need.
Ravidasvir is a safe, effective, and affordable option developed by DNDi in close collaboration with Egyptian company Pharco Pharmaceuticals and key partners in Malaysia and Thailand. It is used in combination with another direct-acting antiviral called sofosbuvir. The Phase III clinical trial conducted in Thailand in 2017 was co-sponsored by the Thai Ministry of Public Health and carried out in collaboration with multiple Thai institutions.
Ravidasvir is registered in Malaysia, where it has made a substantial contribution to bringing down the price of hepatitis C treatment. It was also added to the Essential Medicines List of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023.
‘Ravidasvir is an extraordinarily inspiring success story of South-South, non-profit drug development focused on patients’ needs. Thanks to Thailand and Malaysia’s strong leadership, all partners demonstrated that countries with high burdens of hepatitis C can develop innovative, life-saving medicines tailored to the needs of their people,’ said Dr Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of DNDi. ‘This MoU with GPO is an important step in facilitating wide access to ravidasvir in Thailand, the country that co-developed it.’
GPO will take the lead in filing for regulatory approval with Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration. DNDi and Pharco will support this process by providing technical expertise and the necessary documents and rights.
‘Our mission is to make high-quality medicines affordable and accessible. Pharco is incredibly proud to be part of this partnership, as we remain more committed than ever to make the vision of a hepatitis C-free world a reality. It represents another step to reach the WHO target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. We are thrilled to work with DNDi and GPO to reach that common goal,’ said Dr Sherine Hassan Abbas Helmy, CEO of Pharco Pharmaceuticals.
The clinical trial that led to the development of ravidasvir was financed by the Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders Transformational Investment Capacity initiative, with the objective of increasing access to treatment for HCV patients in low- and middle-income countries.
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is a Thai state enterprise under the Ministry of Public Health, dedicated to strengthening medicine security and public health. GPO manufactures and distributes a wide range of essential medicines—including antiretrovirals and preventive treatments. Committed to affordability and quality, GPO also exports to countries across Asia and Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Bhutan, Somalia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Pharco Pharmaceuticals (Egypt)
Founded in 1984 and based in Alexandria, Egypt, Pharco Pharmaceuticals is a leading private company developing, producing, and marketing over 450 pharmaceutical products, including generics and licensed drugs. With exports to over 50 countries and scientific offices across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, Pharco specializes in antibiotics, soft gelatin capsules, and Penicillin production. The company is committed to improving global access to safe, effective, and affordable healthcare solutions.
About DNDi
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit medical research organization that discovers, develops, and delivers safe, effective, and affordable treatments for neglected people. DNDi is developing medicines for sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, parasitic worm diseases, mycetoma, dengue, paediatric HIV, advanced HIV disease, cryptococcal meningitis, and hepatitis C. Its research priorities include children’s health, gender equity and gender-responsive R&D, and diseases impacted by climate change. Since its creation in 2003, DNDi has joined with public and private partners across the globe to deliver 13 new treatments, saving millions of lives. dndi.org
Media contacts
Baralee Meesukh (in Bangkok, Thailand)
+66 81 921 6462
bmeesukh@dndi.org
Kanyakumari Damodaran (in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
+60 16 749 8047
kdamodaran@dndi.org
Frédéric Ojardias (in Geneva, Switzerland)
+41 79 431 62 16
fojardias@dndi.org
Photo credit: Suriyan Tanasri-DNDi
