Indonesian JV to boost Asian bioequivalence capabilities
This article was originally published in Scrip
Innogene Kalbiotech and the Malaysian contract clinical research organisation Info Kinetics have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture in Indonesia.
The new company, Pharma Kinetics, will carry out accredited contract bioavailability (BA) and bioequivalence (BE) studies from a facility within a Jakarta hospital.
Innogene is the Singapore-based biologics and diagnostics unit of the Indonesian drug company Kalbe Farma, which will provide further support to the venture through Pharma Metric Labs. This is an Indonesian provider of BA/BE studies set up by Innogene in 2005.
"There is a huge demand for BA/BE studies in the Indonesian market, with more than 200 pharmaceutical companies providing medicines to over 250 million people," Info Kinetics managing director Dr Lee Toong Chow commented.
The company expects demand to grow further with the planned harmonisation of regulatory standards in the 10-country ASEAN (association of Southeast Asian nations) region next year. In the longer term, the joint venture said its services may help Indonesian generics firms export their products to other major markets.
Kalbe Farma, one of Indonesia's largest pharmaceutical groups, owns the Mitra Keluarga chain of hospitals in the country, which will give Pharma Kinetics easy access to study subjects.