Sarawak Moves Towards Becoming Home To Southeast Asia's Regenerative Medicine Hub
KUCHING, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is taking steps to strengthen its position in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors through a proposed RM50 million investment to develop the Sarawak Regenerative BioFoundry at the Sarawak Bio-Industrial Park.
The proposed development is a collaboration between the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) and BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd (BVT), formalised through an exchange of documents between Bioeconomy Corporation chief executive officer (CEO) Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak and BVT CEO Hazwan Razak.
Bioeconomy Corporation in a statement today said the document exchange took place yesterday during the Groundbreaking and Agreement Exchange Ceremony for the Sarawak Bioindustrial Park in Kota Samarahan. The ceremony was witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
It said the Sarawak Regenerative BioFoundry is planned as Southeast Asia’s first nexus (integrated hub) connecting a network of complementary activities specifically focused on regenerative medicine, with the aim of restoring patients’ health and well-being.
“The BioFoundry will encompass four main activities: the Manufacturing Nexus, Clinical Nexus, Technology and Research Nexus, and Wellness Nexus, thereby creating an integrated ecosystem to support the development of regenerative medicine from the research stage through to patient treatment.
“The facility will support the development of cell and gene therapy products (CGTPs), which are among the key growth areas in regenerative medicine. CGTPs are advanced medical treatments that use living cells or genetic material, such as stem cell therapies and immune cell therapies, to treat complex diseases, including certain types of cancer and genetic disorders.
“By housing research, manufacturing and clinical facilities in a single location, the BioFoundry is expected to accelerate the process of bringing innovations from the laboratory to patients by producing and supplying CGTPs to hospitals and clinical partners throughout Sarawak and the wider region,” the statement said.
Mohd Khairul Fidzal said Malaysia needs stronger infrastructure and development pathways to enable healthcare research findings to be translated into treatments that can benefit patients.
“Cell and gene therapy remains an emerging field in Malaysia. Although local biotechnology companies are developing technologies with high potential, many still face challenges in obtaining clinical validation and bringing their products to market.
“The collaboration with BVT will provide companies within our ecosystem, including BioNexus-status and Bio-based Accelerator companies, with a better pathway to test, validate and develop their technologies in a real-world healthcare environment. The BioFoundry will provide this platform while operating in accordance with the guidelines and regulatory requirements of the Ministry of Health.
“This collaboration will also strengthen ties between industry, healthcare providers and the government, while supporting technology transfer, commercialisation and investment in the high-value healthcare industry. We want to see local bio-innovations move beyond the laboratory—to hospitals, into the hands of healthcare professionals and, most importantly, to those who need them,” he said.
Mohd Khairul Fidzal added that Bioeconomy Corporation currently supports a portfolio of biotechnology companies developing more than 50 cell and gene therapy products, which will be among the range of products that could be supported by the Sarawak Regenerative BioFoundry.
Through the collaboration, Bioeconomy Corporation and BVT will jointly develop all four Nexus activities at the BioFoundry.
Both parties will also facilitate talent development and access to relevant incentives, as well as coordinate collaboration with state agencies, hospital partners and other stakeholders to support the development and operation of the facility.
-- BERNAMA