Attorneys in Tilleke & Gibbins’ regulatory affairs team have produced the Cannabis and Hemp Business Guide – Thailand, a primer on the rapidly developing cannabis industry in Thailand.

The updated Thailand chapter of The Pharma Legal Handbook, published by Pharma Boardroom, is a comprehensive guide to the legal framework regulating the healthcare and life sciences industries in Thailand. The latest Thailand chapter was authored by four of Tilleke & Gibbins’ life sciences specialists in Bangkok: Alan Adcock, partner and and head of the firm’s regional life sciences practice; Dr. Atthachai Homhuan, director of regulatory affairs; San Chaithiraphant, senior associate; and Kittiya Nopparatrunroj, regulatory affairs consultant. The handbook is a must-read for healthcare and life sciences companies that are interested in exploring expansion into the Thai market. The guide is broken into ten easy-to-read sections that delve into various aspects of local regulations: Regulatory, Pricing, and Reimbursement Overview Preclinical and Clinical Trial Requirements Marketing, Manufacturing, Packaging and Labeling, Advertising Traditional Medicines and Over-the-Counter Products Product Liability Patents and Trademarks Regulatory Reforms Cannabinoid Drugs, Medical Cannabis, and Opioid Drugs Orphan Drugs and Rare Diseases Localization Biosimilars and Biologics A preview of the Thailand chapter is provided via the PDF button below, and the complete guide is available for purchase on the Pharma Boardroom website (use promotional code Tilleke10 for a 10% discount).

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing safety measures, many Thai retailers have shifted their sales toward online platforms. Unsurprisingly, counterfeiters have followed suit. The online sale of counterfeit healthcare and other life sciences products (e.g., food, cosmetics, and medical devices) is an area of significant concern, as it is particularly prevalent, damaging, and complex in relation to Thailand’s laws. This article outlines this type of counterfeiting activity in Thailand and explains some important tools brand owners have for fighting it. Counterfeiting Operations Although illicit operations seek to avoid being identified by authorities and brand owners, investigations by law enforcement and Tilleke & Gibbins on behalf of clients have yielded some insights into how these illegitimate sellers typically operate. Often, consumers are first exposed to these counterfeit life sciences products by paid social media advertisements that link to social media accounts set up by sellers impersonating brand owners. This brand impersonation may include unauthorized use of a trademark or trade name as part of the account name, and unauthorized reproduction of official advertisement artwork or product descriptions, taken directly from the official social media account. From the fake social media account, consumers are usually directed to a merchant website that contains consumer reviews, which are entirely fabricated. While not every counterfeiting operation follows this exact blueprint, employing some variation of these methods lends counterfeiting platforms the ability to proliferate through multiple iterations, as well as believability in the eyes of consumers. How Brand Owners Can Take Action Life sciences brand owners often discover that their products have been targeted by counterfeiters when a counterfeit item injures or negatively impacts a consumer. Thinking that the product is genuine, the consumer may then complain to the brand owner, or worse, file a complaint with the authorities. Many times