By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, March 17 — State-owned entity Invest Selangor Berhad via its biotechnology coordination division is looking to cooperate with domestic and international vaccine experts, particularly those recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
State executive councillor for investment, trade and industry Dato’ Teng Chang Khim said the move will create a working partnership with pharmaceutical companies to produce effective and safe vaccines locally.
“This will increase the prestige and ability of Selangor’s biotechnology industry to a higher level, enabling it to compete with the international market.
“Selangor is able to realise this as there are 14 higher education institutions and a few research institutions operating in the country which are capable of producing their own vaccines,” he said in his wind-up address during the State Legislative Assembly earlier today.
Teng added the National Vaccine Development Roadmap (PPVN) also has several types of vaccines that are currently being researched to see if they can be manufactured in Malaysia.
“Two of these vaccines are for Covid-19, while the other vaccine is for the therapeutic treatment of head and neck cancer.
“The research to produce the vaccine for Covid-19 will be carried out by the Institute for Medical Research Malaysia in Setia Alam, using deactivated Covid viruses.
“For the time being the country does not have the facilities to conduct clinical trials to determine the efficacy of the cancer vaccines. Cancer Research Malaysia will conduct these trials in the United Kingdom,” he said.
The post Selangor mulls cooperation potential for local vaccine production, jumpstarting biotech industry appeared first on Selangor Journal.
