Biocon Ltd, an innovation-led global biopharmaceutical company, said its long-standing partner, Duopharma Biotech Berhad, through its wholly owned subsidiary Duopharma (M) Sendirian Berhad, has secured multiple insulin supply contracts from Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) worth more than MYR 225 million.
Under the contracts, Biocon’s Malaysian subsidiary, Biocon Sdn. Bhd., will supply short-acting recombinant human insulin, insulin glargine and insulin aspart to Duopharma (M) Sendirian Berhad for distribution across Malaysia, helping improve access to affordable insulin therapies for people living with diabetes.
The contracts include a three-year agreement valued at MYR 155.27 million for human insulin, along with two separate two-year agreements worth MYR 18 million for insulin glargine and MYR 52.5 million for insulin aspart.
The companies said the partnership aligns with the objectives outlined in Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, which seek to strengthen healthcare outcomes and ensure a reliable supply of essential medicines.
Malaysia remains key insulin hub
Biocon Ltd, CEO & Managing Director, Shreehas Tambe, said Malaysia has played a pivotal role in the company’s insulin business over the past decade, supported by its integrated insulin manufacturing facility in the country.
“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,” he said.
Tambe added that the development reinforces Biocon’s strategy of addressing growing healthcare needs while making life-changing medicines affordable and accessible to patients globally.
Supporting diabetes care
Biocon Sdn. Bhd., Site Head, Joe Sian, said the partnership with Duopharma Biotech has significantly expanded access to insulin therapies for patients in Malaysia.
“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,” he said.
Decade-long partnership
Duopharma Biotech Berhad, Group Chief Executive Officer, Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid, said the company is marking a decade of collaboration with Biocon while continuing to strengthen access to insulin therapies in Malaysia.
“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,” he said.
Biocon and Duopharma Biotech have been working together since 2016 to address Malaysia’s growing diabetes burden. Through the partnership, more than 120 million insulin cartridges have been supplied to MoH facilities over the past decade, supporting over 450,000 patients in Malaysia’s public healthcare system.
Beyond diabetes care, the two companies have also collaborated in oncology for more than seven years and have recently expanded into ophthalmology biologics, broadening access to biologic therapies for patients across the country.