Indonesian-listed pharmaceutical company, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk., recently opened its office for research coordination and licensing in Singapore.

This largest company in Southeast Asia focuses on research and development of biopharmaceuticals and other innovative products as well as diagnostic tools.

Known as Innogene Kalbiotech Pte Ltd (Innogene), it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kalbe. Innogene aims to specialise in oncology, intensive care, therapeutic and preventive vaccines.

Innogene also collaborates with other local and international companies, researchers and institutions to acquire, develop and patent innovative pharmaceuticals and diagnostic products for the global market. They include Fraunhofer-Gessellschaft, Europe's largest applied science organisation to develop affordable diagnostic kits for Hepatitis C, Canada's YM BioSciences Inc to develop nimotuzumab also known as hR3 for treating brain tumour and Recombio, a Swiss company to develop a cancer vaccine, IE10, for the treatment of non small cell lung carcinoma and breast cancer. Innogene is also working with Singapore's Lynk Biotechnologies to develop and license out innovative products for application in different therapeutic classes.

In addition to being the centre that coordinates clinical trials and research activities, Innogene will also be the office for licensing activities which manages the application and commercialisation of patents worldwide.

Currently, Innogene is looking at a staff strength of 12 including scientists, clinical technicians and administrative staff.

The Singapore subsidiary is supported by advisors located in the USA and France as well as ad hoc experts of different therapeutic disciplines.

Headquartered and publicly-listed in Jakarta, Kalbe Farma now owns 14 per cent of Indonesia's pharmaceutical market. Its export sales in 2005 rose to more than US$30 million (5 per cent of its total consolidated sales). Kalbe Farma posted revenue of Rp 1.4 trillion for its first fiscal quarter in 2006 ended March 31(6.9 per cent higher than first quarter in 2005). Its net profit reached Rp 200.3 billion which is 22.1 per cent higher compared to the same period last year. Kalbe Farma boasts offices in Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam and employs more than 12,000 staff.