Biocon has announced that the Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia, has awarded a three year contract, to its subsidiary, Biocon SDN. BHD., Malaysia, to supply recombinant human insulin (rh-insulin) formulations manufactured at its large scale biopharmaceutical facility in Johor, Malaysia. It was awarded a MYR 300 million (Rs.460 crore) contract to be serviced over a period of three years for supplying rh-insulin cartridges and re-usable insulin pens under the Malaysian government’s Off-Take Agreement (OTA) initiative.

It seeks to seeks to encourage local manufacturing of new pharmaceutical products thus lowering the country’s reliance on imports and also enhancing the exports potential. The contract is extendable for additional two years subject to approval by the Government of Malaysia.

The company’s rh-insulin is Malaysia’s first locally manufactured biosimilar biologic product approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Malaysia, for commercial sales in the country. This marks the commercialization milestone of Biocon’s first overseas facility in Malaysia.

The insulins and insulin delivery devices will be distributed through CCM Pharmaceuticals, a leading local pharmaceutical player which has an extensive supply chain network to service primary healthcare clinics and hospitals across Malaysia.

“We are pleased to support the Ministry of Health of Malaysia in providing high quality, affordable, rh-insulin for people with diabetes in Malaysia. It is a matter of pride that this is a ‘Made in Malaysia’ insulin product manufactured by Biocon SDN. BHD. at the BioXcell Biotech Park in Nusajaya, Johor. We expect our Malaysian facility to cater to the growing needs for affordable insulins across the globe, said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD, Biocon.

Incidence of diabetes in Malaysia, is reported to be 3.3 million people. The Malaysian government spends nearly US$ 566 annually on every diabetic and with the number of people with diabetes projected to cross over 4.5 million by 2020, it will impact the government’s healthcare expenditure significantly.

Biocon’s facility with 800,000 sq. ft. built-up area has been set up with an investment of MYR 1.1 billion and complies with global regulatory requirements. Rh-insulin is the first product from Biocon’s Malaysian facility approved by NPRA, which certified Biocon’s facility first in 2015.