MALAYSIAN PHARMA SERVICES COMPANY SCOUTS FOR BUSINESS IN US

By Manik Mehta

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (Bernama)-- A two-member delegation representing Inno
Bio Ventures Sdn Bhd, has completed a tour of the United States after scouting
for business among local pharmaceutical and other companies.

The delegation, comprising Andrew Moore, Inno Bio's vice president and Mohd.
Nazlee Kamal, the group managing director, visited a number of companies in New
England and other places in the United States.

Inno Biologics Sdn Bhd is the flagship company of Inno Bio Ventures which is
a Ministry of Finance incorporated company.Inno Biologics is a contract
manufacturer specialising in biomanufacturing of mammalian cell culture-based
biopharmaceuticals.

"We can meet the regulatory requirements of the US Food and Drug
Administration," Moore told Bernama in an interview here.

"Inno Bio also offers complete services from upstream to downstream
operation for the development of therapeutic proteins. Our reliable, rapid and
cost-effective services will reduce risks, cost and time investment," he said.

But, as Nazlee put it, the Kuala Lumpur-based company needs FDA approval if
its products are to be marketed in the United States.

Asked to explain the response from the US companies with whom they had made
made contact, Nazlee said that it had been "very encouraging".

"We met several companies in the New England region. In Boston, we called on
small, medium and big-sized companies. The companies realise that their biggest
advantage in entrusting us with the business will be cost effectiveness,"
Nazlee added.

Both Moore and Nazlee stated that the cost savings for companies in the West
will be very high if they entrusted the manufacturing to Inno Bio.

"We see a bright future for the biotechnology industry in Malaysia. We offer
high quality standards at low costs. This is our biggest strength," Moore
claimed.

He described the company as a "start up", even though it has existed for the
past six years.

The newly accredited Malaysian ambassador to the United States, Dr Jamaludin
Jarjis, who also participated in Inno Bio discussions with companies, spoke of
the transformation of Malaysia's economy.

He highlighted that the economy had moved up the supply chain ladder from a
manufacturer of low-cost consumer items to a supplier of highly-complex products
such as those in the field of biotechnology, which has been a priority industry
under Malaysia's master plan.

"You will see greater interaction between US-based companies and Malaysian
contract manufacturers," Jamaludin predicted.
--BERNAMA