Strong together: New MOU for cardiovascular research in Thailand

Strong together: New MOU for cardiovascular research in Thailand

In a promising initiative, Thammasat University Hospital and Novo Nordisk signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on November 11, 2023 to expand clinical research in the field of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in Thailand. This is a significant step as the number of patients with these diseases continues to rise in Thailand. Loud MGR Online Over 45% of the population is overweight or obese and at least 6.1 million people suffer from diabetes, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The new partnership is titled “Together Towards Tomorrow: Shaping the Future of Cardio-Metabolic Care Through Clinical Research.” Professor Dilok Piyayotai, Director of Thammasat University Hospital, emphasized the importance of this collaboration to improve healthcare in Thailand. Professor Acharra Tangsathapornpong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, also highlighted the urgency of pursuing knowledge-based approaches to solving these health challenges.

Growing need for research

Given the alarming data that tells us, among other things Bangkok Biz News Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with 20.5 million deaths per year. In Thailand, in 2025 we will be faced with the fact that around 260,000 patients will have to reckon with cardiovascular diseases. The collaboration between Thammasat University Hospital and Novo Nordisk aims to improve the management of these often preventable diseases and find innovative solutions.

Clinical research is seen as key to developing safe and effective treatments. Novo Nordisk invested a total of 370 million baht in research between 2019 and 2023 and recorded 25% annual growth in research and development investment in Thailand. The focus is on the patient-centered approach in order to sustainably improve the quality of life of the population.

Insights and results

The signing day was not only a formal event, but also a platform for clinical research presentations and interactive exhibitions aimed at raising awareness of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These diseases are shown to have far-reaching impacts on society, as confirmed by a study focusing on heart failure in Thailand. This study, published in PubMed, shows that heart failure is a serious health problem that results in high hospitalizations and high in-hospital mortality rates.

The bisection data on heart failure illustrate the challenges in treatment: around 22.7% of patients were hospitalized again within 180 days of discharge. This underscores the urgency of developing and implementing evidence-based, innovative treatments.

In summary, the new initiative between Thammasat University Hospital and Novo Nordisk is a step in the right direction to address the health challenges of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in Thailand. The partnership offers the opportunity to create a better future for patients through clinical research while realizing economic benefits for the country.