Roche Pharmaceutical, a global pharmaceutical leader, has marked a groundbreaking moment by selecting Malaysia as the location for its First-in-Human (FIH) trials focused on a rheumatology indication.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad highlighted this significant achievement during the Clinical Research Excellence in Early Phase and People Development event.
Dzulkefly emphasized the acknowledgment of Malaysia’s clinical trial capabilities by a multinational healthcare giant, stating, “Malaysia’s clinical trial ecosystem has developed rapidly, with over 2,300 sponsored clinical research conducted since the establishment of Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) in 2012.”
The FIH trial, centered around an experimental drug for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), will be conducted at the Clinical Research Centre of Sarawak General Hospital.
Dr. Wendy Tay, Country Medical Director at Roche (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, shared insights, stating that Malaysia is among seven countries included in the study and is the first within the Asia-Pacific region.
Dzulkefly acknowledged the role of CRM’s Phase 1 Realisation project in facilitating Malaysia’s readiness for hosting such critical clinical trials.
In parallel, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CRM and the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA).
Dzulkefly highlighted the importance of Malaysia remaining competitive on a global scale, stating, “Through collaborative efforts, CRM and PhAMA are poised to contribute significantly to the advancement of healthcare and the pharmaceutical sector.”
The strategic partnership includes PhAMA providing protégés to CRM annually for the next three years, fostering the development of clinical research talents in the country.
This development underscores Malaysia’s growing prominence in the global clinical research landscape, with Minister Dzulkefly expressing optimism about the significant contributions this partnership will make to healthcare advancement.