On September 21, 2012, Tilleke & Gibbins, together with the National Innovation Agency, will host a Thai-language seminar on “Medical Devices: Opportunities & Regulations.” The seminar with consist of three presentations, one of which will be conducted by Rarana Phanudulkitti, a consultant at Tilleke & Gibbins. With her expertise in regulatory affairs, Rarana will deal specifically with registering medical devices in Thailand, with an emphasis on best practices for companies in ensuring a smooth registration process.

On June 28, 2012, Dr. Atthachai Homhuan, senior consultant in the Tilleke & Gibbins intellectual property and regulatory affairs groups, will be presenting at the 3rd Annual Clinical Trial Forum at the Patumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which will come into effect in 2015, will integrate the region’s economies and create a single market of 600 million consumers. All industries are bracing for this change, but the competitive landscape is transforming even more quickly in the healthcare sector. Regional harmonization has already commenced for the cosmetics industry, while further integration is imminent for other industries and products, such as medical devices.

The Thai pharmaceutical industry is characterized by its expanding yet challenging landscape. Amidst growing medical tourism and strong R&D centers in the Asia Pacific region, issues related to patent protection, counterfeit drugs, and innovation recognition are increasingly imperative for pharmaceutical companies.