Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) - Indonesia
is aiming to manufacture its first, locally produced vaccine to combat the H5N1
avian influenza virus by 2013, with state-owned pharmaceutical company PT
Biofarma working to prepare its facilities for developing the vaccine for mass
production, a minister says.
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih
said that Biofarma was currently working on an initial stage of the vaccine, a
process that could lead the way for its mass production in 2013.
"It takes a long time to manufacture the
bird-flu vaccine on a large scale. If the budget is available this year, then
we will be able to have the facilities ready by the end of 2013," Endang
told reporters after witnessing the signing of an agreement between the Health
Ministry and the Research and Technology Ministry on vaccine research and
development.
The government has developed a research
consortium to develop the bird-flu vaccine to deal with any outbreaks. The
consortium, led by the University of Indonesia's (UI) School of Medicine,
involves several other institutions, including the Eijkman Institute, Health
Research and Development Agency at the Health Ministry, the Indonesian Agency
for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), UI's School of
Engineering, Biofarma and the University of Airlangga in Surabaya, East Java.
"[The consortium] produced an avian
influenza vaccine prototype under joint research in 2011," said Endang on
Wednesday.
In their research, scientists from the
University of Airlangga succeeded in developing an H5N1 avian influenza vaccine
seed that could kill the highly pathogenic bird flu virus in cases of human
infection.
The vaccine seed, which costs about Rp 2
billion (US$234,000) to produce, was a first for Indonesia as it was developed
from bird flu virus found in the country. It was also the first vaccine seed
locally produced by Indonesian experts.
Indonesia has an estimated 170 variants of
bird flu, making it the country with the highest potential for developing bird
flu-vaccine seeds.
The consortium, Endang said, would continue to
work with its partners to conduct research in order to develop other vaccines
for diseases like malaria, HIV, Rotavirus, Pneumococcus, as well as adjuvant vaccines
and other raw materials for medicine.
Studies show that about 95 percent of raw
materials for medicines in Indonesia is imported.
"We have been unable to domestically
produce the raw materials because there is this perception that to do so would
be too costly compared with importing them. This is baseless," said
Endang, referring to the country's natural resources, which offer vital sources
of raw materials for medicines.
She said that Indonesia has managed to
cultivate Artemisinin annua, a plant that produces a natural medicine called
Artemisinin , which is deemed the most effective active ingredient for treating
malaria.
Iskandar, Biofarma's president director, said
innovation holds the key to overcoming challenges in developing home-grown
vaccines.
"As a first step, we need to streamline
the long process of vaccine research and development by improving collaboration
between academics, business people and the government," he said.
Reviving the National Vaccine Research Forum
was one of the steps needed to accelerate vaccine development in the country,
he added.
The forum consists of eight consortiums
established to conduct research and development for vaccines for dengue fever,
malaria, HIV/AIDS, Rotavirus, bird flu and the new tuberculosis vaccines.
During the signing of the agreement, UI Rector
Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri handed over a bird flu-vaccine prototype to Biofarma,
marking a partnership that is expected to last the next 15 years.
Endang said the partnership for vaccine
development was one of many modes of support offered by the government to end
the country's dependence on foreign manufacturers.
The partnership is also expected to expedite
the mass production of vaccines at home.
"The university's researchers will
produce the vaccine's prototype and Biofarma will mass-produce it. And the
government will buy the locally produced vaccines," she said.
The Research and Technology Ministry provides
funding for the consortium.
Elly Burhaini Faizal in Jakarta/The Jakarta
Post | Asia News Network
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment