Contract Details

Biocon Limited announced that its long-standing partner, Duopharma Biotech Berhad via its wholly-owned subsidiary Duopharma (M) Sendirian Berhad, has secured multiple insulin contracts from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia, valued at over MYR 225 million this year.

Supply Agreement Structure

Biocon's subsidiary, Biocon Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, will supply insulin products to Duopharma (M) Sendirian Berhad for distribution. The contracts comprise:

  • Three-year agreement valued at ~ MYR 155.27 million for human insulin
  • Two-year agreement valued at ~ MYR 18 million for insulin glargine
  • Two-year agreement valued at ~ MYR 52.5 million for insulin aspart

Products Supplied

Biocon will supply short-acting recombinant human insulin, insulin glargine and insulin aspart to support continued access to high-quality, cost-effective insulin therapies for people living with diabetes in Malaysia.

Strategic Context

The partnership aligns with policies indicated in the 13th Malaysia Plan ("RMK-13") and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 ("NIMP 2030"). Both companies are committed to helping patients with diabetes achieve better healthcare outcomes by ensuring a steady and accessible medicine supply.

Historical Partnership Context

Biocon has been working with Duopharma Biotech since 2016 to address Malaysia's growing diabetes burden. Through this collaboration:

  • Over 120 million insulin cartridges have been supplied to MoH facilities over the past decade
  • Supporting more than 450,000 patients in the Malaysia public healthcare system
  • The partnership has expanded beyond diabetes care into oncology for more than seven years
  • Recently expanded into ophthalmology biologics

Manufacturing Capabilities

Biocon Sdn. Bhd. operates one of Asia's largest integrated insulin facilities for recombinant human insulin and insulin analog products:

  • Located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
  • Fully integrated capabilities spanning drug substance manufacturing and drug product fill-finish operations
  • Manufactures vials, cartridges and insulin delivery devices
  • Comprehensive portfolio of regular, long-acting and rapid-acting insulins
  • Houses advanced R&D, Quality Assurance and Quality Control laboratories
  • Employs more than 1,100 personnel
  • Biocon has invested over USD 600 million in the facility since 2011
  • Represents one of the largest foreign direct investments (FDI) in Malaysia's biotechnology sector

Regulatory Approvals

The facility has secured multiple global regulatory approvals, including:

  • Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA)
  • Ireland's Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) under EMA framework
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA)
  • Brazil's ANVISA
  • Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
  • Only manufacturing facility in Malaysia approved by both EMA and U.S. FDA for sterile biologic products

Market Impact

Biocon's investments in Malaysia have:

  • Reduced Malaysia's dependency on imported insulin
  • Contributed to improved access, greater affordability and enhanced price stability of insulin
  • Recently partnered with Malaysian government for MyMAHIR BioTechies initiative to skill biotech graduates

Management Commentary

Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing Director, Biocon Limited: "Malaysia has been central to Biocon's insulin journey for over a decade, anchored by our integrated insulin manufacturing facility in the country – the largest in Asia. Our Johor operations enable us to deliver insulin at scale, expanding patient access in Malaysia and around the world."

Joe Sian, Site Head, Biocon Sdn. Bhd.: "With an estimated 4.75 million people living with diabetes in the country, ensuring affordable insulin supply is essential. This collaboration enables us to support patients across our full portfolio of insulin products."

Encik Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid, GCEO, Duopharma Biotech Berhad: "It is more critical than ever to have robust domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to safeguard patient access to essential medicines, strengthening national medicine security and achieving healthcare self-reliance for the country."