Mention Cuba, and the name evokes images of cigars, Che Guevara, sugarcane and Celia Cruz dancing to salsa shouting “Azucar!” However, the recent Cuban endeavor to Malaysia is nothing of the sort. Instead, the Cuban waves being made among the industries have been solely through Cuban biotechnology products, and embracing their commercialization was Bioven Sdn. Bhd.

“Bioven is a biotech / life sciences company aimed at commercializing both high and low-end Cuban biotech products in the South East Asia market,” explained Dr. Shermal Perera, CEO of Bioven Sdn. Bhd in an interview in the Bioven HQ in Plaza Mont Kiara last month. “We are a multinational organisation by virtue of our foreign links and we have plans in the pipeline to further develop our links and launch the company into the global market and into the forefront of the biotechnology industry.”

Dr. Shermal Perera

Ranging from the low-end biotech, Acuabio 1, a growth stimulator agent that could make prawn and shrimp fry resistant to diseases such as the dreaded white-spot virus, to what may be one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of late, the EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), TGF (Transdermal Growth Factor) and Her-1 (Herceptin) cancer vaccines for the treatment and control of cancer, and also an effective treatment for Infected Ischemic Diabetic Foot. All products have been solely developed by Cuban scientists, and are currently being brought into the country for development and commercialisation by Bioven.

If product sales are anything to go by, growth stimulator agent Acuabio 1 is a good sign of market approval of Bioven’s products. Results during test trials have shown that the product increased productivity by 100 per cent by combating the dreaded white-spot disease. Thousands of aquatic animals succumb to the disease each year and in 1999, the global shrimp aquaculture industry suffered losses of RM76 billion, including RM96 million in Malaysia alone. Based on a combination of proteins, Acuabio 1 was developed for the market by Heber Biotech, the marketing arm of Cuba's Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB). Currently, Bioven holds the exclusive licensing rights for the commercialisation of Acuabio 1 in the Asean region with the product also being shipped to ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Phillipines and Indonesia.

“We are looking at revenue generation in the millions from this (Acuabio 1) product. This is basically a ‘filler’ during the lag phase experienced in biotech companies for commercialisation. Our major products which are termed as ‘blockbuster products’ have the potential of generating income in excess of RM500 million. These products are the cancer vaccines and Diabetic Foot treatment” enthused Dr. Perera.

The cancer vaccines, EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), TGF (Transdermal Growth Factor) and Her-1 (Herceptin) have been lauded as the holy grails of medicine as it has been noted that despite its tight trade policy with Cuba, the US administration made a rare exemption for US company CancerVax to go into an exclusive agreement with the Centre of Molecular Immunology in Cuba (CIM) for regional exclusive right of the product. Other companies holding such rights include Biocon in India, the Chinese International Science Centre of Beijing and of late, Bioven Sdn. Bhd who hold the rights for the Southeast Asian region and member countries of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Currently, Bioven plans to perform the Phase Two clinical studies of the EGF cancer vaccine in collaboration with local hospitals.

“Local scientists have been very supportive of the technology,” he commented when queried on the acceptability of the product. “In fact, several medical oncologists when approached with the proposal for clinical trials and have seen the product, were very impressed with the level of technology employed and expressed their consent and willingness to be part of the clinical trials.”

With regards to the strategies of its growth, Bioven aspires to establish itself as a driving force in the Malaysian biotechnology industry by importing technologies that will directly and indirectly benefit the sector into the country. Its long term goal being to establish itself globally through its “blockbuster products” just as many large multinational pharmaceutical and biotech companies have. “With the stellar leadership of our Chairman, Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir, and guidance from our Board of Directors, we are confident that Bioven will be able to achieve all that it has set out for.”

When questioned on the current state of biotechnology in the country, Dr. Perera had some strong opinions. “Through my experience of having studied and worked in the UK for the past 12 years, I feel that there is a lack of perspective and key life skills among new biotech and science graduates here.”

“We (Bioven) just had a series of interviews and conducted various tests for positions in the company and we were surprised to see that grads could not even answer simple questions such as, ‘What are GMOs?’ Out of the 600 who applied, we selected 6 to undergo a final face-to-face interview. From thereon, we selected 3, out of whom 2 mentioned they could not take the position because they were afraid it might be too much work,” he said indignantly.

“But yet, we also see quality graduates which not only have a good footing in their subject, but also great capacity for general knowledge and a will to learn. This is the kind of employee that Bioven hopes to employ and share in its vision of global commercialisation and biotech excellence.”