It is indeed a special time for Sandoz, the global leader in developing generics and biosimilars. In 2026, Sandoz marks 140 years of heritage globally, while celebrating 55 years of presence in Malaysia and 40 years in Singapore.
And on top of that, Sandoz Malaysia also celebrated their new office in Kuala Lumpur, which is to establish a new regional talent hub in Malaysia's capital, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
The opening of their brand new hi-tech office in the heart of Kuala Lumpur also saw many top officials attending the event,
The company has been at the forefront of medical advancements with historical milestones including the launch of Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the introduction of the first oral penicillin in 1951, the first recombinant interferon alfa in 1980, and the world’s first biosimilar medicine in 2006.
The pioneering spirit of Sandoz is also evident in Malaysia, where it introduced the country’s first biosimilar for cancer patients and secured the first biosimilar government tender for anaemia treatment in dialysis patients.
The company has also recently made new energetic moves to further improve its marketing strategy in the South-East Asia region.
First off, Boon Huey Ee was recently appointed as the President of Sandoz Asia Cluster. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the medical market and is known to be a dynamic and transformational leader who brings an entrepreneurial approach to the life sciences. Known for decisive execution and fostering cross-functional alignment across R&D and commercial divisions, Sandoz is confident Boon Huey is equipped to guide its pipeline through the new complex global markets and regulatory landscapes.
Then, in May, Sandoz announced the appointment of Christine Chong as Country Head for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
Christine brings more than a decade of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry across Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, where she has led business transformation, portfolio growth and organisational development, consistently driving market expansion, digital innovation and employee engagement. Her proven track record spans commercial excellence, product launches and business turnarounds, making her a valuable addition to the Sandoz leadership team.
And the icing on the cake was the announcement during the new office launch that Malaysia is to be the centre of its regional talent hub.
"Malaysia is an excellent place to be the regional and the country has the capability and talent to handle the responsibility," said Boon Huey after the launch ceremony. “We view Malaysia as a favourable destination for establishing new positions and our goal is to attract the best talent in the local market and create growth opportunities.”
"Malaysia is also very central in this region, and it is very strategic for us in achieving our targets. We are also hosting international talents here in KL, and that includes colleagues from Brazil, Australia and Turkey in KL. Singapore also plays a major role in our plans as it is the strategic hub for the region."
"As for Malaysia, for over 50 years, Sandoz has remained committed to the country, consistently delivering safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare products. Our extensive portfolio of 40 brands covers 15 disease areas, ensuring that patients have access to the treatments they require.”
“At Sandoz, we are proud to have introduced the first-ever generics/biosimilar for many drugs in the Malaysian market, which has significantly improved access to new treatments,” she added.
One of the key advantages of biosimilars is their ability to reduce treatment costs without compromising quality, safety or efficacy. Biosimilars are typically 30% to 50% more affordable than reference biologic medicines, and by lowering treatment costs, they can enable healthcare systems to provide access to biologic therapies for up to three times more patients.
Through its biosimilar portfolio, Sandoz aims to expand patient access to advanced biologic treatments while supporting the sustainability of healthcare systems. The company currently has more than 1,300 products available worldwide across generics and biosimilars, covering a broad range of therapeutic areas and supporting millions of patients with accessible treatment options.
The company’s commitment to excellence extends beyond delivering high-quality biosimilars and generic medication. It also includes a strong focus on developing its people, as well as contributing to the scientific discourse to redefine the medical field.
As such, scientific education is central to the strategy of Sandoz in Malaysia. The company offers continuing medical education (CME) and hosts webinars on various medical topics, including antibiotics, biosimilarity, cardiovascular health, pain management, and gastroenterology. These initiatives underscore the dedication of Sandoz to advancing knowledge and awareness in the healthcare community.
From cancer to colds, Sandoz has always given a broad scientific heritage in Malaysia, across various therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, pain, respiratory and allergy, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system (CNS). In terms of biosimilars, immunology, endocrinology and oncology are covered.
“The introduction of biosimilar medications after the patent expiry of innovative medicines marks an important milestone in any therapeutic area. It enhances access to these medications, allowing more healthcare professionals to select the most appropriate treatments for their patients.”
For the record, Sandoz is a major Swiss-based pharmaceutical company specialising in generic medicines and biosimilars. Tracing its roots back to 1886, it operates independently after spinning off from Novartis in late 2023. Producing roughly 900 million patient treatments annually, it is a global leader in affordable healthcare.
Sandoz operates globally, including a regional presence in Malaysia where the company collaborates with AFM and local healthcare providers to supply essential medications, such as biosimilars for arthritis and cancer therapies.
In 2026, Sandoz marks key global milestones while celebrating 55 years of presence in Malaysia and 40 years in Singapore.
The commitment of Sandoz to redefining workplace quality is reflected in its recognition as one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia for 2022 and 2023 consecutively.
"By emphasising talent growth and a dynamic work culture, Sandoz is leading the change in healthcare and redefining the standards of a modern workplace," said Christine. "What is important is that Sandoz always gives affordable medicines that are of the best quality, and at the end of the day, patients must get the best treatment and medicine to recover from their health issues."
