Pharmaniaga to process fill and finish pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
KUALA LUMPUR: Pharmaniaga Bhd and Serum Institute of India Pte Ltd will collaborate to make available an affordable Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in Malaysia.
The vaccine is intended for use of infants and toddlers aged six weeks to two years old as a prevention from invasive disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) or pneumococcal disease with outcomes that are serious and potentially fatal.
The collaboration is marked with the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Pharmaniaga LifeScience Sdn Bhd (PLS), Pharmaniaga’s wholly-owned subsidiary, with Serum.
The partnership will enable PLS to buy the PCV and subsequently manufacture using the technology and know-how licenced by Serum for filling and finishing in the form of Pre-Filled Syringes (PFS).
“This is a major step towards improving the vaccine’s affordability and accessibility in the country,” Pharmaniaga managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope said in a statement today.
“This World Health Organisation prequalified vaccine will allow for more children to be protected from debilitating diseases such as Meningitis, Sepsis, Pneumonia and Otitis Media as well as provide us with options in the fight to ensure no child dies from these preventable and treatable diseases,” he added.
Pneumococcal disease is one of the widespread and devastating but preventable diseases.
He believes vaccinations are an important part of public health and through vaccination, some diseases can be effectively prevented and more lives saved.
“I am very happy with the collaboration between Pharmaniaga and Serum, a true example of a perfect synergy between both companies which are highly reputable with internationally certified facilities that are able to successfully develop and carry out this project.
“Both companies believe that access to a pneumococcal vaccine with adequate coverage of prevalent strains in the country is a priority and are committed to making the vaccine affordable to the public” he added.
Source: NST