Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar
SHAH ALAM: CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd, which today received shareholders’ nod for a name change as part of its corporate rebranding exercise, plans to enter more niche areas with less competition in order not to be reliant on its generic drug portfolio.
Group managing director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar said biosimilar products currently contributed 22 per cent of total revenue, and the company planned to gradually increase it to more than 25 per cent through erythropoietin (EPO) treatment registration.
(Biosimilar products that are very similar but not identical to other licensed biological products, unlike generic medicines that are considered equivalents.)
He said Duopharma was looking to supply EPO for kidney treatment as well as more oncology (cancer treatment) products to the government.
“The cost of medicines is still high and we are looking forward to introduce biosimilar products in Malaysia to bring down patients’ cost not only in the private sector but also government spending to acquire the medicines,” he told a media briefing yesterday to unveil its new name and logo.
To be known as Duopharma Biotech Bhd by April, the company is undertaking a rebranding initiative following the demerger from its then-parent company, Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd, in December 2017.
Leonard said the government allocated a higher sum for healthcare under the 2019 Budget but the breakdown of allocation for hospitals and pharmaceuticals was vague.
“Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest additional money has been allocated for medicines, and in the next two years it would be for biosimilars and oncology would be the big driver of Duopharma’s results,” he said.
The company allocated three per cent of its revenue annually on research and development, Leonard said, adding that it also did corporate venture capitalism by investing in equities in order to gain access to quality technologies.
Duopharma, which develops, manufactures and markets generic drugs and branded healthcare products, announced on Monday it made a 12 per cent higher net profit of RM47.64 million on revenue of RM498.72 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2018.
It is a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Malaysia and a key regional player that offers a range of product in the form of tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, haemodialysis solution, sterile irrigation solution, sterile powder injectables, small volume injectables dental cartridges and eye drop preparations. — Bernama