KUALA LUMPUR: Pharmaniaga Bhd
expects to invest about RM100 million over the next two to three years in facilities to manufacture halal and cost-effective vaccines at its existing life science plant in Puchong, Selangor.
Managing Director, Datuk Farshila Emran said the facilities would be placed at its low volume injectable plant in Puchong, which is recognised by the European Union, and occupy around 280,000 square feet of space.
The investment would be funded by internally generated funds, she said.
“Vaccines are not easy to manufacture...needs a strong foundation and team to tap into this industry. “To start with, we want to produce two vaccines, namely DTaP Vaccines and Meningococcal vaccines, and expect to produce the first batch in 3-5 years,“ she told reporters after the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with Technology Depository Agency (TDA) and Hilleman Laboratories (Hilleman Lab) here today.
The MoC were signed by Farshila on behalf of Pharmaniaga, TDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datuk Seri Zailani Safari and Hilleman Lab CEO Dr. Davinder Gill.
Also present at the event were Health Minister Datuk Seri S.Subramaniam ,Pharmaniaga Chairman, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Boustead Holdings Bhd Chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat.
Under the MoC, Pharmaniaga and TDA will work hand-in-hand to coordinate the effort in developing and manufacturing vaccines that can be incorporated into Malaysia's National Immunisation Programmes while Hilleman Lab will provide vaccine knowhow and technologies.
Farshila said the vaccines research and development by Hilleman Lab is ongoing and now in various stages, hence, it was time for Pharmaniaga to start preparing for the manufacturing facilities.
She said the company had been in communications with Hilleman Lab for almost two years and hoped the vaccines, which are in the first two clinical stages, would be ready for production in two to three years.
As a government-linked company, Farshila said Pharmaniaga was consistently striving to produce cost-effective pharmaceutical products and this latest collaboration was an example of this effort.
“Pharmaniaga is truly honoured to be part of this joint research with a very established global player like Hilleman Lab. This will certainly put us on the world map,” she said.
She added apart from providing the facilities, Pharmaniaga would also coordinate in conducting successful clinical trials, manage all regulatory matters and facilitate products commercialisation. -Bernama
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