Kanger, Sinopharm inks agreement for Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Kanger International Bhd (KIB) has inked a collaboration agreement with China-based Sinopharm Group Hunan Changde Medical Co Ltd (Sinopharm Group) for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines developed by China National Biotech Group Company (CNBG) in Malaysia.

KIB, in a Bursa Malaysia filing today said the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines will only be executed after obtaining approvals from local authorities namely, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency and other relevant authorities.

Sinopharm Group is engaged in sale of medical supplies and equipment and a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (CNPG), a large Chinese state-owned healthcare group.

Under the agreement, Sinopharm Group has appointed KIB as the sole distributor for the vaccines, medical devices and products in Malaysia.

KIB will also undertake the marketing and promotion of Sinopharm Group’s products in Malaysia, however, both parties will sign a separate agreement in regards to specific product category, price, purchase price and payment method.

This agreement shall take effect for a period of three years effective from 25 September 2020 until 24 September 2023, the Bursa Malaysia filing noted.

To note, Sinopharm CNBG’s Covid-19 vaccines are now in final stages of testing and has already entered Phase 3 trials – the final stage before being approved for general use – in more than 10 countries namely United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Peru, Morocco, Argentina, Pakistan, Serbia and Jordan.

While the final stage of trials is still underway in many countries, China and UAE have approved the emergency use of Sinopharm CNBG’s Covid-19 vaccine for those in high-risk groups such as medical workers.

Notably, KIB’s newly appointed chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs from July 2015 to May 2018, is also expected to boost the company’s application for approvals for Sinopharm CNBG’s Covid-19 vaccine distribution in the country.

Several hundred thousand people have already taken the Covid-19 vaccine without a single case of infection or adverse effects.

With these positive outcomes, the Sinopharm CNBG’s Covid-19 vaccine is expected to enter the market as early as December 2020.

Source: NST