Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah SWT, we can be together today for the Launching Ceremony of the Vaccine Development Roadmap (PPVN) and the Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI). A word of appreciation to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and all parties involved for the preparation of this historic event. Since March last year, the Malaysian family was tested by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have endured that bitter period together as a family by helping each other.
To ensure that the country is always prepared to face pandemics in the future, the government is committed to increasing capacity in the health sector, especially for the production of vaccines. As Malaysia strengthens national health security, this will enable us to reduce our dependence on vaccine-producing countries. The government is also committed to driving R&D to produce new technologies.
To realize this aspiration, the government will ensure that 50% of government research funds are provided for experimental development (pre-commercialization activities) especially for innovations with high potential for commercialization. This is to ensure that all development, research, commercialization and innovation activities are in line with national priority areas and national needs.The import rate of Malaysian pharmaceutical products is worth USD $ 1.94 billion in 2020 where vaccines are among the top five import items with a total purchase of RM4.3 billion for COVID-19 vaccine alone.
This dependence on imports shows that we need to produce more technology creators and not mere users of technology. Our country has vaccine scientists, who have expertise in vaccine research and development. I would like to thank the scientists who are in front of me at this time for all the tiredness that has been the main group to produce vaccines for humans. Through various programs implemented by the government, we expect more vaccine scientists to be born. This in turn can support various government programs and plans to increase the ability to develop human -specific vaccines, not only for domestic use but also for the global market.
In terms of industrial readiness, among the efforts that have been made include through Pharmaniaga through the process of bottling or ‘fill and finish’ COVID-19 vaccine which is CoronaVac or better known as Sinovac, and Solution Biologics company for bottling Convidecia vaccine, or known as CanSino. For information, the National Vaccine Development Roadmap launched today will not focus only on the COVID-19 vaccine alone, but it will also be extended to vaccines for other diseases such as the development of vaccines for head and neck cancer. neck) by the Cancer Research Center.
Through the study of the national vaccine development plan by the National Science Council, this plan has been implemented jointly by MOSTI and MOH. Through this study, the government has agreed that MOSTI should focus on local vaccine development and research. As a result, today we see the Malaysian Genome Institute (MGI) upgraded to the Malaysian Genome & Vaccine Institute or Malaysia Genome & Vaccine Institute (MGVI). This upgrade of MGVI is in line with the scope of MGI which focuses on genome research and molecular biology in vaccine production efforts.
I am confident that the establishment of MGVI can have a positive impact on the country from the economic, social and technological point of view, thus contributing to economic stability because there is no dependence on external sources of supply. Through the implementation of PPVN and the establishment of MGVI, highly skilled human capital in various fields of research, especially those related to health and vaccines will be able to be born.
More employment opportunities will be created for Malaysian families as well as help increase the number of skilled workers and improve the living standards and health of the people. Although the development of R&D and vaccine production is a high investment, but it has the potential to provide long -term returns for Malaysian families through cost savings in treating diseases, in addition to bringing investment from multinational companies to Malaysia.
Through the implementation of PPVN and the establishment of MGVI, Malaysia is also able to pave the way in producing its own quality, effective and safe vaccine products in accordance with the conditions set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) thus becoming a hub for vaccine manufacturers and increase confidence in vaccine use. As a first step in that direction, I would like to share today, there are 3 projects that are ready to be implemented through PPVN, namely:
First: 2 types of COVID-19 vaccine using inactivated virus and mRNA developed by the Institute for Medical Research (IMR). The development of this vaccine will focus on the Variant of Concern (VOC) COVID-19 available in Malaysia. The allocation channeled by the government is the research allocation of MOH and SUKUK Prihatin (special assistance for research allocation COVID-19) amounting to RM3.5 million;
Second: The cholera vaccine developed in collaboration between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the University of the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST). The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation also funded this project using a Strategic Research Fund (SRF) of RM10.5 million entitled Development of Mucosal/Oral/Subunit Vaccines Against Cholera, Tuberculosis and COVID-19; and
Third: The Pre-clinical Evaluation of A Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine for the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer by Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) amounting to RM3 million funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. However, as there is no first in human clinical testing facility in Malaysia at this time, CRM will conduct clinical trials from February 2022 until March 2023 in the United Kingdom.
The Government will implement this strategy in stages using the PPVN framework so that planning can be implemented systematically and focused. All this requires the togetherness of the Malaysian Family. Therefore, I hope all parties can mobilize their energy in an effort so that Malaysia can become one of the world’s leading vaccine producers. Once again, congratulations to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia on this success. Finally, in the words of Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I launch the National Vaccine Development Roadmap and the Malaysian Genome & Vaccine Institute.
