Amid concerns over hepatitis virus outbreaks, Thailand has recently approved the registration of "Ravidasvir," a highly effective antiviral drug for hepatitis C that can achieve a complete cure within 12 weeks, to strengthen the nation's pharmaceutical security.
While society focuses on the hepatitis A outbreak, another major public health challenge is hepatitis C, which chronically affects over 350,000 people in Thailand. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced good news by approving the registration of "Ravidasvir" as a new effective treatment option.
Ravidasvir belongs to the class of Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), a treatment technology that targets the virus directly. A key highlight is that the drug was developed through a collaborative clinical study between Thailand and Malaysia to ensure it is truly suitable for patients in this region.
This success resulted from efforts by the nonprofit DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative) together with the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) and Pharco Pharmaceuticals. Thailand is the third country globally to approve this drug, following Malaysia and Egypt.
Dr. Graciela Diap from DNDi stated that this registration will help ensure stable drug supply and reduce long-term healthcare costs, as DAAs were initially very expensive and difficult for developing countries to access.
The global hepatitis C situation remains concerning, with over 240,000 deaths annually from cirrhosis and liver cancer. In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health aims to proactively screen 42 million people by 2030 to detect and cure patients with affordable, quality medication.
The approval of Ravidasvir is not just adding a new drug to the market but represents hope for Thailand to sustainably move toward a hepatitis-free future.