Monday, June 4, 2007

Avesthagen arm inks MoU with Biotech Corp

AvestaBiotherapeutic and Research (ABRPL), a joint venture between Avesthagen and Meditab Specialities, a part of Cipla group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (MBC) for manufacture of biosimilars.

Villoo Morawala Patell, managing director, Avesthagen said, ABRPL, in order to achieve early market access, has identified MBC, which will enable ABRPL to enhance the infrastructure needs with an objective to accelerate its 11 biosimilar (are similar biological products) product development programme.

MBC is an agency under the purview of the Malaysian ministry of science, technology and innovation and owned wholly by the ministry of finance. The agency identifies value propositions in the biotech sector in both research and development and commerce and supports these ventures via financial assistance, and developmental and facilitation services. The agency is desirous of facilitating ABRPL’s investment in Malaysia.

"I am sure that Avesthagen’s relationship with MBC will see a global need for biosimilars. Let us work towards the success of this unique south-south co-operation," said Patell.

ABRPL, through this MOU, would like to establish a Malaysian legal presence and would place the intellectual property rights for the product with ABRPL Malaysia.

This would also give ABRPL Malaysia an opportunity to obtain the BioNexus Status offered by the Malaysian government as well as apply for any relevant incentives as soon as practicable.

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