Thailand as a clinical trials provider

Based on Deloitte Access Economics analysis, it is estimated that฿10.4 billion (USD 0.32 billion) was spent on clinical trials in Thailand in 2015. Of this, the majority, or 75% (฿7.8 billion, USD 0.24 billion) was on Phase 3 research. Phase 1 has the lowest cost (around 3% of total trial costs).

There wereover 111,000 Thai trial participants in 2015 and approximately 38% of clinical trials in Thailand had pharmaceutical companies as sponsors. It is estimated that expenditure on trials sponsored by private industry was ฿3.94 billion (USD 0.12 billion).

In 2015, there were an estimated 8,905 full time equivalents (FTEs) directly employed in clinical trials in Thailand, who were paid approximately ฿4.9 billion (USD 0.15 billion). Additionally,6,604 FTEs were employed in industries related to the clinical research sector. These include upstream industries such as: post and telecommunication; pulp, paper and cardboard; and electricity.²

Clinical trials contributed approximately ฿8.8 billion³ (USD 0.27 billion) to Thailand’s GDP in 2015which represents approximately 0.05% of Thailand’s GDP for 2015. Of this, ฿2.0 billion (USD 0.06 billion) resulted from contributions to upstream industries.