| Cover Story |
The company started delving into
speciality products in 2010 which saw it
shift focus from small molecule generics.
“The primary reason for this shift in
focus was to differentiate ourselves within
an intensely competitive landscape that
we anticipated in the small molecule space.
While small molecules still make up a large
component of revenue for Duopharma
Biotech, the competition could lead to
compressed margins. We saw the speciality
sector as less crowded and therefore
potentially a more attractive space in
which to operate,” Duopharma Biotech
Group Managing Director Leonard Ariff
Abdul Shatar told The Health.
A strategy was developed for an
entirely new business via biologicals and
higher-end small molecules. This helped
Duopharma Biotech to become the first
Malaysian company to complete a full
clinical Phase III trial in Malaysia for a
biologic, Erythropoietin. The company
also registered the first monoclonal
antibody biosimilar, i.e. Zuhera
(Trastuzumab), and constructed
the first HAPI (Highly Potent Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredient) facility in
Malaysia, amongst its other initiatives
According to Leonard Ariff, the speci
area contributed about 20 per cent of to
revenue for Duopharma Biotech in 2019
The company’s overall improved financ
performance for that year was attribute
the higher sales demand from the priva
and public health sectors.
“Our ethical Speciality and Classic
range of products is primarily driven
by our government-related business,
with the domestic private market as th
second-largest channel, incorporating b
ethical Speciality and Classics, as well a
consumer healthcare. Our Internationa
Business contributes about 10 per cent
of total revenue. In 2019, the domestic
business segment continued to accoun
for a significant part of our revenue and
profit, which was circa 90 per cent of to
revenue.”
Attracting further
government contracts
Duopharma Biotech had its governmen
Approved Pharmaceutical Product List