Duopharma Biotech Berhad recorded a new milestone when it became the first pharmaceutical company to receive halal certification for an oncology product, awarded by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
The product is currently approved as an adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer as well as a first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.
Produced at Duopharma Biotech’s Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HAPI) facility located in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, the halal oncology product is supplied to both Government and private healthcare hospitals in Malaysia and has recently been approved for export to Brunei and Singapore.
Duopharma Biotech Group Managing Director, Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar, said: “This milestone halal certification for an oncology product manufactured at Duopharma Biotech’s HAPI facility is in line with our environmental, social & governance (ESG) commitment, where one of our Key Focus Areas is Access to Medicine.
“We are making continuous efforts to provide consumers and patients with access to much-needed medicines and therapies – assured safe for use and effective, high in quality, hygienic and halal from the start.
“Our state-of-the-art HAPI facility plays a vital role in the fight against many diseases, enabling us to embrace innovation and technology to serve patient needs and expand access to specialised therapies.”
Duopharma Biotech’s cutting-edge HAPI facility is the first cancer medicine manufacturing facility in Malaysia, kickstarting the company’s foray into the oncology segment in 2019. Currently, the facility produces generic treatments for breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer and blood cancer.
It is also fully equipped to produce medicines to treat hormone imbalance, as well as cardiovascular, central nervous system and musculoskeletal conditions. The facility has also received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification from the Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
Leonard Ariff said Duopharma Biotech had been working to elevate the position of Halal pharmaceuticals within the global pharmaceutical landscape, in collaboration with stakeholders across the world.
“We aspire to produce a holistic range of safe, effective, quality Halal-certified products to enhance inclusivity in healthcare, enabling all patients to have choices in the therapies and medications they need for their well-being.
“As the halal pharmaceutical leader in Malaysia, we embrace the halalan toyyiban concept, adding another layer of assurance beyond compliance with GMP standards,” Leonard Ariff commented.
Since 1999, Duopharma Biotech has pioneered a range of halal-certified health supplements, including CHAMPS, Flavettes, Proviton and Naturalle products, in compliance with MS 1500:2009 standards. – The Health
