Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 20 June, 2007
Melaka Identifies Three Biotech Products For Commercialisation
By Mohd Bakri Darus
HAVANA, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Biotechnology Corporation has identified three biotechnology products from Cuba to be commercialised in the state for the local and international markets.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the three were a product to treat diabetic ulcer, monoclonal antibody derived from tobacco leaves for hepatitis and an anti-oxidant using mango skin.
"We have agreed to send the proposal papers on these three products to Heber Biotech here for approval before signing the agreement," he told Malaysian reporters covering his visit here.
Mohd Ali had earlier toured the Cuban Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Centre here where the Melaka delegation was briefed on its operations by the project manager, Dr Sergio Perez Talaverq.
The Melaka delegation led by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob is on a two-week working visit to Latin America, with Cuba being the third country after Argentina and Chile.
"Before the agreement is signed, we want to know the conditions as this involves intellectual property and also the clinical tests conducted have to be verified by the authorities in Malaysia like the Health Ministry," said Mohd Ali.
He said the project would be utilising the National Biotechnology Fund meant for financing commercialisation of biotechnology products, whether produced in Malaysia or by joint-ventures overseas.
He said Heber Biotech had also invited Malaysian biotechnology experts to attend a biotechnology seminar in Havana next year.
"I hope our biotechnologists will be able to come to Cuba often to share the Cuban expertise and experience to expedite our biotechnology endeavour."
He said there were other new developments in Cuba, but the three products identified were apt as many Malaysians were suffering from diabetes and hepatitis, while there was a need for health supplements.
-- BERNAMA
|
