Choose Malaysia For Clinical Trials, Says Dr Jamaludin

CHICAGO, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Bio Chicago 2006 international convention of the biotechnology industry opened here Sunday, with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis promoting Malaysia as a biotechnology destination, particularly as a place to conduct clinical trials for new drugs being developed by global pharmaceutical companies.
He also disclosed that a new act was being formulated to allow local scientists to benefit financially when their research findings were turned into marketable products via partnership with venture capitalists.
Making his case in front of an international audience at the McCormick Place Convention Centre here, he said companies were aware that clinical trials to check on the efficacy of a drug was a costly affair as it could take up as much as 60 per cent of the total cost of development that could go as high as US$1 billion.
"To bring down the cost of clinical trials, we feel that Malaysia is a suitable destination due to its multi-racial community, unlike some countries which have a homogenous population.
"Another of our strong point is that we have taken measures to ensure the protection of intellectual property (IP), having in mind the particular concern about this on the part of global biotechnology companies," he said.
Pledging that Malaysia would give serious attention to this matter, Dr Jamaludin told reporters later that he would discuss efforts to beef up enforcement of IP protection legislation already in place with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
The minister conceded that clinical trials currently being conducted in Malaysia were not up to the level where they could become a big industry.
He further said that the involvement of the Health Ministry would be sought in developing such activities into a business.
On IP protection efforts, Dr Jamaludin told reporters later that as it stood now, local scientists would receive normal pay for their work as there wasn't any legal provision allowing them to financially enjoy the outcome of their toil.
He said by collaborating with joint-venture partners to produce biotechnology-based products for the market, scientists could be turned into entrepreneurs.
And this, he said, was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wish to see an increase in the number of such people.
Elaborating on the proposed act, Dr Jamaludin said that a committee would be formed involving his ministry, Higher Education Ministry as well as the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to look into its formulation.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Bio 2006 ministerial seminar, Dr Jamaludin said that from Malaysia's biodiversity, the industry might derive leads for development of new therapeutics for various diseases to meet global needs.
He further said through Malaysia's educational infrastructure and institutions of higher learning, sufficient quantities of scientific and technical human capital were being created to develop knowledge and innovations to drive the biotech industry.
"Of paramount concern is the need to develop Malaysia's human capital in this knowledge-driven industry, and engender within them the essential quality of innovativeness," he added.
On Monday, Dr Jamaludin is scheduled to launch the Malaysian Pavilion which features 13 exhibitors, highlighting the advances and opportunities in Malaysia's biotechnology sector.
An estimated 20,000 participants and 1,600 exhibitors are in Chicago for the biggest gathering of biotechnology movers and shakers in the world.