An Executive Country Review: South East Asia An ... - EC Reviews

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Movers & Shakers A round-up of Southeast Asia’s most influential pharma leaders, complied by EC Reviews PHARMANIAGA, Shah Alam, Malaysia Mr. Azhar Hussain, Managing Director Number one in its home market, Pharmaniaga is “a company on the threshold of moving into the global market,” says Azhar Hussain, the company’s managing director. Indeed, 2006 is a key year for Pharmaniaga and will see the progress of the company’s venture in China. Pharmaniaga is involved in a joint venture with Wuxi Worldbest Treeful Pharmaceutical Co Ltd to set up a large-volume intravenous (LVI) plant, now fully operational.The plant will be able to produce up to 100 million bags or bottles in the next few years. Meanwhile, a small-volume parenteral plant built to FDA standards will be completed and will start producing this year, giving a tremendous thrust forward to the state-backed listed company in its seemingly irrepressible progression. UNITED LABORATORIES, Manila, PHILIPPINES Mr. Carlos C. Ejercito, CEO United Laboratories, with its 23% share of the Filipino market, is by far the leading drug manufacturer in the country. But the ambitious strategy of its CEO, Carlos C. Ejercito, already projects the company towards future challenges:“to further expand our activities in the region, we aim to become a truly regional player, among the best-positioned in the ASEAN landscape, ready to tap opportunities not fully recognized by others.That’s why we decided to venture into the biotechnological segment and to do that in China, where we created Shanghai United Biotech, engaged in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of biopharmaceuticals.We are very confident the risk we took will soon be properly rewarded.” KOTRA PHARMA, Melaka, Malaysia Mr. Jimmy Piong, Managing Director President of the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industry (MOPI), Jimmy Piong is wary of challenges laying ahead. His company is one of those striving in the shadow’s of Malaysia’s Pharmaniaga and its diversification policy has so far been bearing fruits. Mr. Piong sees the future in brand development, the increase of regional sales, and the increase use of technological products. Injectables are also showing great potential and his company is mulling a project in this direction. But the outspoken managing director of Kotra is also ready to raise issues of data exclusivity, cost of compliance, and unfair domestic competition to its fellow manufacturers of Malaysia and to its national authorities. DEXA MEDICA, Jakarta, Indonesia Ferry Soetikno, Managing Director Mr. Soetikno is a visionary. In 1996, he started implementing a new strategy for his group:“We decided to remain a generic company, respectful of the patent laws, but at the same time to establish alliances with the largest global originators.” Notably developing licensing agreements, the company managed to grab the top spots of quality producers of Indonesia while working with global firms like Pfizer.Today displaying impressive growth figures, the company is increasing expenses for research in product development and technology to “put more and more R into our D,” in the words of its leader. LLOYD LABORATORIES, Manila, PHILIPPINES Ms. Zenaida D. Balajadia, Chairman of the Board When it started its operations in 1989, Lloyd Laboratories was merely a repacker for medicines in blister form. Almost 17 years later it now stands as one of the country's major contract toll manufacturers of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Its joint ventures and partnerships extend to prestigious pharmaceutical companies in Asia, Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world. As Zenaida D. Balajadia, Chairman of the Board, points out,“our reliable team of formulation and research professionals ensures high quality standards from start to finish; we are now able to assess the stability characteristics of drug products and determine their projected expiration dates. Our reputation for efficiency, quality, and customer service is now a byword in the industry.” HOVID, Ipoh, Perak, MALAYSIA Mr. David Ho, Managing Director Hovid is described by many in Malaysia as an industry leader. Be it for its foresight in using palm oil, Malaysia’s largest agricultural production, to produce biodiesels and as a source of vitamin E and Tocotrienols or for its very successful and extensive foray into foreign markets, the company indeed has many areas of expertise. David Ho, the man behind the successful transition of the company from a family-owned herbal tea maker into a trend setter explains that “In this industry, foresight and vision are everything. But today, with these changes in the environment, it might not be enough.” SOHO GROUP, Jakarta, Indonesia Mr. Tan Eng Liang, President Commissioner Family businesses can grow into leading players.The Soho group is developing its activities across the distribution and manufacture of OTC and prescription drugs. Now revamping its factory, the company is expecting to offer more services as a contract manufacturer.“We have to strike the right balance between our production needs and our partners.We can, for instance, introduce foreign products with our brand names, and we are flexible and open,” explains Tan Eng Liang. Like many of the best in the region, the company has invested a great deal of time and capital to upgrade its systems and procedures. Now, it hopes to share the benefits of these investments with partners from the region and beyond. SANBE FARMA, Bandung, Indonesia Dr. Jahja Santoso, President Director Dr. Santoso is a genuine character.The man behind the birth and rise of Indonesia’s third largest group and one of the region’s best pharmaceutical companies doesn’t seem to run out of energy and ideas.With a recently completed state-of-the-art large-volume parenteral sterile plant and a new dry-form plant, the company is very clearly displaying its intention to take the top spot. Dr Santoso’s passion for winning never runs out of steam: ”We are moving into biotechnology through cooperation with other players and we want to explore and take advantage of the latest advances in product technologies.” To channel his energy and materialize its commitment to the community, Dr Santoso recently opened a private hospital in Bandung, Indonesia, yet another facet of this multitalented industry leader. 84 Pharmaceutical Technology SEPTEMBER 2006 www.pharmtech.com
KALBE FARMA, Jakarta, Indonesia Mr. Johannes Setijono, President Director of Kalbe Farma The region’s giant doesn’t have room or time for complacency. Dominating the Indonesian market, the group is also building up its credentials as a global player. In the meantime, it has set up a biotechnology venture in Singapore and is looking for growth vehicles across the scope of pharmaceutical activities:“Our strategy is to work with small innovative companies that have great products but no means to sell them in markets like ours or this region’s.We are also moving into more codevelopments and we are working to go into pure product development,” says Mr. Setijono, the company’s president. GOVERNMENT PHARMACEUTICAL ORGANISATION (GPO), Bangkok, Thailand Lt.Gen.Dr.Mongkol Jivasantikarn, Managing Director Dr. Mongkol is a retired military surgeon whose responsibilities included being the doctor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and following Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand in her royal doctor group. Now, the managing director of GPO, his primary agenda is reshaping the GPO to partake in the food supplement and cosmetic markets which will increase the GPO’s sales by two-fold over the next five years to Bt10 billion (approximately $250 million). Currently, GPO is the biggest distributor of medicine to hospitals in Thailand, what many consider a state-owned monopoly.“We don’t shy away from our responsibilities at any stage: the times are challenging for our country and our company is and will be at the heart of the challenge,” says Dr. Mongkol. T.O. CHEMICALS Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand, Mr. Chiravi Pavitrapok, PhD, Associate Managing Director T.O. Chemicals was first established in 1979. Since then T.O. Chemicals has diversified into several companies forming the T.O. Group of companies. Ranging from manufacturing and distribution of capsules to Penicillin and other antibiotics,T.O. Chemicals has been GMP certified since 1988. Mr. Chiravi is the youngest of the dynamic team who recently came back from the United States after finishing his PhD in chemical research. His ambitious goals are now to pioneer his family’s business into R&D for new molecules with its recently finished facility and export to markets outside of the ASEAN region.“I want to start exporting to the Middle East and move down to Africa, where there is a greater need for life saving drugs that we can provide,” says Mr. Chiravi Pavitrapok. HIZON LABORATORIES, Manila, PHILIPPINES Mr. Rafael H. Hizon Jr., CEO One of the oldest and most respected drug producers in the country, a proudly family-owned company, Hizon Laboratories has grown over the years to become one of the leading contract manufacturers of the Archipelago: to date, it counts seven out of the 10 biggest Filipino pharmaceutical players among its customers. At the same time, it started looking for overseas opportunities, launching its dental line medicines in Thailand.“It’s mainly quality that we offer. I want to stress this point: even if the Philippines are still a developing country, foreigners shouldn’t forget there are companies over here that constitute an example of cutting-edge practices and very advanced technology,” says Rafael H. Hizon Jr., CEO of Hizon Laboratories. MENSA GROUP, Jakarta, Indonesia Mr. Jimmy Sudharta, President Director Started as an API importer, the Mensa Group has developed its manufacturing and distribution activities.Today, the company is a dynamic Indonesian player with its eyes cast beyond the domestic horizon. Already producing under license for UNICEF, the company is mulling a cephalosporin unit to be completed within the next two years. For Jimmy Sudharta, the founder of the company, market constraints from competition through to ever-increasing demands for more stringent quality standards are blessings in disguise for those who can comply during a time of cross-border opportunities. “Every country in the region looks at Indonesia with AFTA in mind.” BIOLAB Co. Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand Mr. Rachod Thakolsri, Managing Director A part of the BioPharm group of companies, Biolab manufactures and distributes its medicine through Biopharm Chemical Co. Biolab is one of the few companies in Thailand ready for PIC/s standards and already recognized for meeting GMP standards since 1992. One unique aspect that sets Biolab apart from the other manufacturers is its limited API production. Biolab’s ranking is fourth among Thai manufacturers in terms of sales.“We expect to push our exports from 25% to 40% in the year to come with the opening of our new facility, which already meets PIC/s standards”, stated Mr Rachod Thakolsri. Biolab is currently the only local producers of Omeprezole antibiotic, which is its own patent. PHARMACEUTICALS AND MEDICAL SUPPLY Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand Mr. Sukavat Amarekajorn, Managing Director What first started as a hobby, Mr. Sukavat has now been manufacturing pharmaceutical equipment for nearly 30 years. A leading supplier in the domestic market, Mr. Sukavat competes with brand names from Germany and Switzerland with his own developed and patented equipment. He has expanded his manufacturing scope and facilities to include equipment for food and cosmetics as well. Currently, Mr. Sukavat exports his products to nearly 30 countries throughout Europe, South America, and primarily Asia. SIAM PHARMACEUTICALS CO. Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand Mr. Thawan Cheunkarndee, Founder and Chairman Thawan is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his company this year.Well known throughout the industry and Thailand for his unpublicized and silent charitable contributions, Thawan was one of the pioneers of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Thailand. Firmly committed to his moral and social obligation to provide life-saving medicine,Thawan is resolute on only collaborating or partnering with companies that share his beliefs. His goal now is to pass this philosophy to the rest of the industry to share and raise the level of health in Thailand. Pharmaceutical Technology SEPTEMBER 2006 85
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