The University of Phayao (UP) team QuitX won the Second Runner-Up award at the Research to Market: R2M#14 National Round 2026, held on September 5, 2026, at the Regional Science Park in Khon Kaen. The national round featured 22 finalist teams selected from more than 125 teams representing 16 universities in the Regional Science Park network nationwide. QuitX presented “Mitrava,” a fast-dissolving tablet designed to support the treatment of nicotine dependence, translating pharmaceutical research into an innovative product concept with potential for healthcare impact and future business development.
Mitrava’s key innovation lies in its fast-dissolving tablet formulation and dual-action mechanism targeting both the brain and lungs, designed to address nicotine dependence from multiple dimensions. The innovation focuses not only on treatment but also on improving access to care and providing an additional option for people seeking to quit nicotine. By translating pharmaceutical knowledge into a potential patient-oriented product, Mitrava aims to support long-term health outcomes and help reduce health impacts associated with nicotine use.
The development of Mitrava reflects an interdisciplinary approach combining pharmaceutical science, healthcare knowledge, and business development. The QuitX team received academic guidance from Assistant Professor Dr. Maleerak Attasinthong, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Phayao, and Ms. Teerathorn Sangharai, Pharmacist, Professional Level, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. The team was also supported by mentors from the University of Phayao Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer (UPITI), who helped guide the development of the research-based concept toward innovation and business opportunities.
The achievement highlights the role of UPITI as a key mechanism for moving research and innovation beyond the laboratory and toward real-world application. Through collaboration among researchers, students, academic mentors, and innovation support teams, research-based ideas can be developed into products with potential economic, health, and social value. QuitX and Mitrava exemplify the University of Phayao’s approach: “From Research to Market, From Ideas to Innovation, From the University of Phayao to the National Stage.”
