Siam Bioscience

Siam Bioscience Company, Ltd. (Thai: สยามไบโอไซเอนซ์) is a Thai drug manufacturer,[1] owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.[2]

Siam Bioscience
Native name
สยามไบโอไซเอนซ์
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded17 August 2009
FounderBhumibol Adulyadej
Key people
  • Apiporn Pasawat (CEO)
  • Songpon Deechongkit (Managing director)
Revenue
  • Increase THB302 million (2020)
  • THB158 million (2019)
OwnerVajiralongkorn
Number of employees
125 (2012)
SubsidiariesInno Biocosmed
Websitesiambioscience.com

In 2009, the project started with a partnership between CPB Equity, subsidiary of Crown Property Bureau in the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and a medical human resource and pharmaceutical technology supporter's Mahidol University.[3] Investing around 2,000 million baht, the project proposes were bio-pharmaceutical product research and producing Thai drugs to reduce the dependence on imported drugs.

The first chair of the board and the key man driving the project was Sanoh Unakul, one of Siam Cement Group's directors.[4] Apiporn Pasawat, former managing director of SCG Chemical, and Songpon Deechongkit, have been CEO and managing director from the beginning.[5]

In 2012, Thailand Board of Investment subsidized Siam Bioscience for 427.50 million baht.[6]

Business partnership

Cuba's Cimab

In 2017, the company was in 70/30 joint venture with Cuba's Abinis (Cimab) from Center of Molecular Immunology to produce and export licensed drugs. Abinis received special tax privileges such as a ten-year tax reduction with help from Thailand Board of Investment.[7] The plant construction started in 2011 and completed in 2013, it is able to produce biopharmaceutical for anaemia treating and reducing side effects of chemo.[8]

Controversy

Lèse-majesté suit

In January 2021, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was charged with lèse-majesté, a strict defamation law, after criticizing Prayut Chan-o-cha government mismanagement of COVID-19 vaccination by relying too much on AstraZeneca vaccine which Siam Bioscience, The Police charged him for publishing Jan 18 Facebook Live stream.[9] Later, Puttipong Punnakanta filed the charge through Technology Crime Suppression Division and the court ordered taking the video down.[10][11]

Later in August 2021, Thanathorn faced two more lèse-majesté charges for the same act.[12]

Subsidy

Aside from BOI subsidy earlier in 2012, in October 2020, Prayut Chan-o-cha led's government allocated 600 million baht budget to Siam Bioscience through the National Vaccine Institute to develop capacity to produce AstraZeneca vaccine.[13] Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit criticized a transparency in the subsidy for for-profit company.

References
  1. "Thai king-owned biotech starts production of AstraZeneca vaccine". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. Department of Business Development (21 January 2021). "สำเนาบัญชีรายชื่อผู้ถือหุ้น" [Copy of shareholder list]. แบบ บอจ.5 (in Thai). Ministry of Commerce: 1. 10031230001377. Retrieved 28 September 2021. {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
  3. "เสนาะ อูนากูล เล่าเรื่อง 'ยุคทอง' ของเทคโนแครต". TDRI: Thailand Development Research Institute (in Thai). 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  4. "แบบแสดงรายการข้อมูลประจําปี สิ้นสุดวันท่ี31ธันวาคม2553" [SCG Annual report 2009] (PDF). 56-1 (in Thai). ปูนซิเมนต์ไทย. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. "เอกสารแนบที่ 1 รายละเอียดเกี่ยวกับกรรมการฯ บริษัทนกแอร์ ปี พ.ศ.2556" [Appendix 1: Detail of Nok Air's board] (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 28 September 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "ผลการประชุมคณะอนุกรรมการพิจารณาโครงการ ครั้งที่ 27/2555 วันอังคารที่ 18 กันยายน 2555 โครงการที่ได้รับการส่งเสริมการลงทุน จํานวน 9 โครงการ รวมมูลค่าการลงทุน 5,542.00 ล้านบาท" [Result of subsidize projects] (PDF) (in Thai). The Board of Investment of Thailand. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  7. Janssen, Peter (18 October 2017). "Cuban biotech royally connected in Thailand". Asia Times. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  8. "Success Stories: Biotechnology" (PDF). Thailand Board of Investment. Retrieved 28 September 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "Thai police charge politician for insulting king over vaccine remarks". Reuters. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  10. "Thai government foe ordered to erase vaccine supply criticism". Reuters. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  11. "ศาลสั่งลบโพสต์วัคซีนโควิดของคณะก้าวหน้า เหตุผิดกม.คอมพิวเตอร์". BBC News ไทย (in Thai).
  12. "Thanathorn hit with 2 more lese majeste charges". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. "PM orders MOPH to ensure COVID-19 vaccine availability". thainews.prd.go.th. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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