The Sun, June 20, 2008
Indian firm to build
RM450m biotech facility in Malacca
SAN DIEGO: India’s Vivo BioTech Ltd is to invest
RM450 million in the setting up of an integrated
biotechnology facility in Malacca to commercialise
bio-therapeutics in Malaysia.
To facilitate the undertakings, Vivo Bio Tech has
formed a joint-venture company Vivo BioTech
(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd with two local partners namely
Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd and Vanguard
Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd.
The contract research and manufacturing services
provider will hold 51% stake in the joint-venture
Melaka Biotech 20% and Vanguard Creative
Technologies the remaining 29%.
The deal was formalised at the BIO International
Convention 2008 here on Wednesday.
It was witnessed by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Mohamad Ali Rustam and Science, Technology and
Innovation Minister Datuk Maximus J. Ongkili.
Vivo BioTech chairman emeritus Vishwanath Komplella
said the facility was expected to begin operation in
2010.
The facility would be equipped with small animals’
facility, primate facility, canine facility and CGMP
facility, he said.
Initially, he said, the CGMP facility would be able
to produce 300 liquid vials per minute and 300
liquid syringes per minute.
Komplella said Malacca was chosen as the location
for the facility due to its proximity to two main
airports – KL International Airport and Changi
Airport - for easier transportation.
“We are dealing with living cells, they need to be
shipped out fast. So we need a location close to the
airports,” he said.
He also believed it would be cost efficient to run a
facility in Malacca.
“We can grow our facility here. I’m not sure if we
can grow our facility cheap like here in other
places,” he said.
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (Biotechcorp)
chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood
said the project would certainly bring significant
benefits to Malaysia in the medical field especially
in commercialising life science research and
development.
“It will help to contribute in building Malaysia as
a biotech hub in areas of international investment,
expanding the pool of knowledge workers and
developing expertise in drug discovery and
development,” he said. – Bernama
|
|
