Malaysia should study Taiwan vaccine venture to avoid failure

Malaysia biotechnology venture has been emphasis on vaccine recently.

First, Universiti Sains Malaysia is now working with Cuba’s Finlay Institute to develop vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) and meningitis. The partners would work on producing a TB vaccine first.

Then, the setting up of National Institute of Natural Products, Vaccines and Biologicals (9BIO) at Enstek Technology Park. Bandar Enstek is located in the Sepang-Nilai southern corridor of the Klang Valley near KLIA and Putrajaya, a project by TH Properties Sdn Bhd.

A partnership between an Islamic country and multinational companies in the production of vaccines. The OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference) countries, in particular, have been very receptive to ideato fulfilll the need for halal vaccines around the world.

9BIO, one of the Ninth Malaysia Plan projects approved under the private financing initiatives on a 25.1ha piece of land, consists of a bio-containment research and development facility as well as a bio-manufacturing facility. The cost of the project was estimated at RM350mil. The institute was expected to produce its first vaccines by 2010.

Ekovest Bhd and Faber Group Bhd joint venture to undertake the privatisation of the construction and maintenance of the national institute with the Health Ministry. “It provides Ekovest with an opportunity to make its foray into the medical and healthcare industry as we understand that the market for vaccines and herbal medicine is huge,” Ekovest executive vice-chairman Datuk Lim Kang Hoo said.

This should be the 3rd construction company in Malaysia involve in healthcare and biotechnology industry. First, UEM Group via Faber and Pharmniaga. Second, TH Group Bhd (Note: different from TH Properties above which is under Tabung Haji), a timber extraction company which has diversified to contracting services and construction, acquired NCI Cancer Hospital (NCICH), formerly known as Nilai Cancer Hospital in Nilai, Seremban, via its holding company Asiaprise Biotech Sdn Bhd at the end of year 2003.

NCI Cancer Hospital founded in 1999 by Dr Kim Tan, a leading UK-based biotech entrepreneur, who has been label Dr Biotech and had founded and listed three biotechnology companies on foreign stock exchanges.

Now, Ekovest Bhd, a main board listed construction company, which control another second board listed construction company PEMBINAAN LIMBONGAN SETIA BHD (PLS) and involved in Danga Bay project, a project expected to benefited from South Johor Economic Region (SJER) announced it venture in the industry.

Taiwan has a bad experience in biotechnology industry especially in vaccine venture. Thus, government, private sector and University have to study the experience of Taiwan's government fail venture to avoid making the same mistake. One of the successful biotechnology venture in Taiwan was driven by private sector and not in vaccine.

TAG:Malaysia:Biotechnology: pharmaceutical:klse