News at home

AgBiotech
More coverage was awarded to the topic of Genetic Modification (GM) recently. A series of articles was penned on the claims and counter-claims surrounding issues in this area.

In a related article, Monsanto’s director of scientific affairs, Dr Harvey Glick, was asked about Dr. Terje Traavik’s claim that Bt toxins purportedly caused various ailments to residents in South Cotabato in Philippines. “The unfortunate thing is that Terje has not released his papers and scientific data backing this claim” said Dr Glick. “More than us, the scientific community have labeled him irresponsible and have asked him to put his findings out in a peer review journal”.


Industry & Environment
There seem to be a growing trend in going back to nature. Natural Resource and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Adenan Satem said the market value for herbal products is estimated to be RM8 billion seven years from now. Accordingly, the Government is now actively promoting herbal agro-technology and has allocated RM183.6 million for research and development in this area. Malaysia, as a biodiversity-rich country, is well positioned in its efforts in becoming one of the leaders in the herbal agro-technology area. A recent product of such initiatives was presented in the discovery and development of anti-viral drugs for dengue fever, which were isolated from herbal source.

Moving on to primary industries, local researchers are showing more innovative ways in treating and reusing industrial waste. Prof. Dr. Gan Seng Neon from the Chemistry Department of University Malaya created the environmentally friendly version of polyurethane, a compound used in a variety of everyday items. According to Prof Gan “..palm is our national product, and making polyurethane foam out of it will help diversify the industry. This will ultimately contribute to the national economy”.

Investment
News on biotech investment has become somewhat common of late. Although it has long been established that the Government has made funds available for biotech investment (either in research of commercialization), we are now seeing more private companies getting in the act. Gold IS Bhd has recently announced that it is looking to invest up to RM35 million, with specific interest in biosciences and information and communications technology (ICT). Chief Executive Officer Ms Tan Lei Cheng said that the investment would fulfill Gold IS’s initial plan of investing RM100 million in new businesses with high growth potential, as it looks to make its mark as one of the stronger private equity investor in the country.


Medical & Health
According to Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Dr. Abdul Latiff Ahmad, the Government spent RM30million on vaccines alone last year. In the face of such demands, we have seen an increase in the number of biotech companies involved in vaccine research in the past few years. An example of this would be Autoimmune Sdn Bhd, who has recently presented its findings on anti-viral dengue fever drugs. The company is now seeking the help of University Malaya’s Microbiology Department to verify its results.

At the moment however, “Malaysian companies are still small and yet to reach world-class status” according to Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad. He estimates that approximately 70% of all drugs in the local market are imported despite there being a significant growth in the local healthcare industry.

Elsewhere, The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) will continue to carry out biomedical research for vaccines that can protect the country from infectious diseases. Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Lee Kah Choon added that such work would bring long term benefits, especially in assuring tourists that Malaysia is a safe place to visit.

Trade & Policy
In an effort to jump-start the local biotechnology industry, the Government has recognized the need to have an appropriate legal and policy framework in place. To prepare for this, Malaysia is drafting laws to protect its rights and resources – a move akin to putting the “legal horse” before the “biotechnology cart”. According to Mr Adib Rahman, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Conservation and Environment Management Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, “in order for biotechnology to fly, there is an urgent need for us to implement two fundamental Bills – on biosafety, and access and benefit-sharing”.

Elsewhere, the Government is actively encouraging companies to undertake R&D for agricultural purposes by providing tax incentives that are associated to such activities. According to Finance Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Helmi Yahaya “Such companies will also get allowances on every industrialized building constructed or acquired amounting to 10% of the initial cost of development, and a further 3% per year”.


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