สัมภาษณ์ นักวิจัยดีเด่นแห่งชาติ 2563

Pongrama  Rammasoot

Authors

Pongrama Rammasoot Center of Excellence in Antibody Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University

Keywords:

Monoclonal antibodies,, Dengue,, Biopharmaceuticals,, Virus inhibition,, Medical innovation

Abstract

This article describes the progress of the development of monoclonal antibody (MAb) biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of dengue fever, a global public health problem with no specific cure. The research team from the Center of Excellence in Antibody Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, collaborated with Osaka University to develop a Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibody (NhuMAb) that can effectively inhibit all four strains of dengue virus by modifying the antibody to work without causing Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE), a factor that makes the disease more severe. The development of this drug has been tested in experimental animals, such as suckling mice and marmosets, and has shown effective virus inhibition. The research team has been able to register patents covering 11 countries and has attracted the attention of BSV Biosciences, a company in the United States, which has invested in and brought the drug into production in a GMP-standard factory, as well as conducting clinical trials (Phase I–III) to bring it to market. The success of the development of NhuMAb not only helps create opportunities for Thailand to be self-reliant in the production of biological drugs but also helps reduce the burden of public health expenses and increase economic opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This development is an example of innovation from research that can be further developed into commercialization in line with Thailand 4.0 guidelines, and it will also help dengue patients worldwide receive more effective and safer treatment.

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