Biocon has commenced work on its Malaysian biopharma manufacturing facility, which is expected to be operational by 2014.
The company, for the first phase construction, is planning to invest RM500 million (about $161 million) and said to be one of the largest investment in the Malaysia's healthcare biotech sector.
Commenting on the facility, the Biocon Chairman and Managing Director, Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, said “The infrastructure, fiscal and financial incentives, and the initiatives of the State Government of Johor to promote bio-manufacturing, make Johor a compelling destination for establishing our global scale manufacturing facility for biopharmaceuticals.
“This facility will cater to the global requirements for Biocon's range of biosimilar insulin and insulin analogs for diabetes treatment.”
The facility will also focus on research and development and production of other biopharma products at a later phase. The plant will be built in compliance with US FDA cGMP standards.
The company had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation SdnBhd (BiotechCorp) to establish the facility in Bio-XCell Malaysia on January 22, 2010.
Biocon's decision to invest in this initiative was driven by Malaysia's strategic location, the country's growing role as a rapidly developing global biotech hub, and the enabling Bio-XCell Ecosystem which offers comprehensive support through high-end infrastructure, human resource and related services.