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AgBiotech & Environment
A bountiful harvest from a commercial corn farming project is signaling great development in the Northern Corridor Economic Region in Bukit Tangga, Kedah, and has prompted the prime minister to call for the growth of more high-yield plants. The project, an initiative by the Kedah government in developing its agriculture sector, is excepted to spur further economic growth in the state. Under the National Biotechnology Policy, agriculture has been identified to be one of the main thrusts for the development of biotech, and much policies and initiatives have been in place to help stimulate the fledging industry, including the urging of banks to finance agricultural projects by the minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries.
 
 
The Forestry Department has taken the initiative to set up a mini conservation area at the Sekayu recreational park where plants known for medicinal properties and ornamental values are being nursed back to health. At the moment, more than 400 species of medicinal plants and nearly 100 species of wild orchids have been grown in the area and the varieties of species have become a new attraction at the recreational park. The department's officers will be venturing into logging areas and will bring out such plants to be placed in the conservation area.
Medical & Health
Clinical research centers are being urged by the Health Ministry to register their studies under an effort to streamline and set up a national register on clinical trials. The registration effort is anticipated to ensure transparency as well as increase public trust in research, while reduce processing time, and allow management to track the progress of the project. The exercise has been observed to be an effort by Malaysia to be a clinical trial hub in view of the growing market of clinical trials.
 
 

A new innovation by USM is expected to be available on the international market by next year, and can be used to treat first and second degree burns while healing within three to five days without leaving scars. The product, a “biological bandage”, made from amniotic membrane is derived from the placenta and was developed by USM’s National Tissue Bank 15 years ago, and is currently going to be marketed by cord blood banking company, CryoCord.

Industry
A project aimed at setting up the largest commercial radiopharmacy in Malaysia is currently underway, and is slated to be completed in the second half of 2008. RM40mil will be invested by biotech company Bio Molecular Industries Sdn Bhd for its set up and the facility will be built on a two-acre site near the KL International Airport in Sepang. The facility will specialise in the production of FDG, a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical used in PET (positron emission tomography) scans to detect and monitor the treatment of cancer.
 
StemLife Bhd expects its net profit to surge 58 per cent to RM6 million for this financial year, backed by further growth in its stem cell banking services. For the half year, StemLife posted a net profit of RM3.9 million, while it had posted a net profit of RM3.8 million for the financial year ended 2006. StemLife managing director Sharon Low said the company is targeting to expand its current base of nine outlets to secondary cities including Sarawak and Penang within one year. She added that StemLife would consider expanding in nascent markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia.
 
With the recent focus in Jatropha curcas as a source of oil for the production of biodiesel, Jatroleum Plantations (M) Sdn Bhd is taking part in the 4th China-Asean Expo trade fair here with hopes of finding a partner to cultivate the non-edible fruit in China to produce biodiesel. The company has already embarked on a pilot project of 1,000 hectares in China's eastern Fujian province and is ready to cultivate the shrubby plant on a commercial basis to tap China's biodiesel market. The current rate of between US$100 and US$150 per tonne of jatropha seeds and the summer price of US$550 per tonne of oil makes investment in the plant a lucractive venture according to Jatroluem executive director, Albert Tan.
Policy
 
Exponential growth in the biotech industry throughout the world is currently affecting the fledging local scene positively, allowing it to reach targets set under the National Biotech Policy as greater investment trends is generally observed, according to comments by Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, CEO of Biotech Corp. In fact, should these trends continue, Malaysia would see 50 more companies attain BioNexus status by the year end. In fact, the companies have been anticipated to bring in RM3 billion in investment by next year. BioNexus status is provided to companies which are noted for their potential contribution to the industry in the form of tax breaks and government grants for research.
On the other hand, the European Comission’s 7th Framework Programme has yet to receive applications for its funding from Malaysian companies, an official observed. The fund is worth €54 billion and has provided for companies inside and outside of Europe. The fund does not restrict Malaysian companies, but the company would have to tie up with a European R&D company.
 
The Forestry Department has appealed to the state government to turn the Karas plantation in the Merchang reserve forest here into a research site for agarwood. Agarwood, also known as gaharu has several benefits including medicinal properties such as a cure for fever, stomach pains and body aches while also having anti-cancer properties. The tree is currently threatened by extinction due to illegal collection. The 47-hectare site for the pilot project -- previously covered with the highly invasive Acacia mangium -- is planted with 39,500 trees. On average, an adult tree can bring in up to RM18,000 after harvesting.