KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Bernama) — Kanger International Bhd (Kanger), a Malaysia-based investment holding company said it has received support from Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI) to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for private sector use in Malaysia.
In a statement Monday, the company said the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) — an agency under MOSTI — has no objections for the company to liaise with the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (Sinopharm) on the purchase of the vaccines.
“As countries around the world work towards securing COVID-19 vaccine supplies, it is necessary for both the public and private sector to join efforts.
“Just recently, Malaysia and China governments signed an agreement to foster greater collaboration in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes cooperation in vaccine research and development (R&D) and supply,” said Kanger executive director Steven Kuah Choon Ching.
He said the company is pleased to receive the support from MOSTI and NIBM as it demonstrates the government’s commitment in exploring all avenues to ensure Malaysians gain access to the vaccines.
On Sept 29, Kanger announced that it aims to venture into the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and had signed a collaboration agreement with Sinopharm Group Hunan Changde Medical Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Sinopharm, for the distribution of the vaccines.
Sinopharm, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, is the largest and oldest biotech company in China.
It has developed two COVID-19 vaccines which have already entered Phase Three trials, which is the final stage before being approved for general use in more than 10 countries.
— BERNAMA