Bio Farma, MSD to Launch NusaGard Cervix Cancer Vaccines in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bio Farma, the holding company for listed state-owned enterprises Kimia Farma and Indofarma will launch NusaGard vaccines, the domestically produced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The project is a collaboration with MSD, a pharmaceutical company based in Rahway, New Jersey. 

The Director of Bio Farma, Shadiq Akasya, explained that the launching of NusaGard is one of the measures to prevent cervix cancer. "We provide accessibility to the services related to cervix cancer, from the detection to vaccination," he said in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, South Jakarta on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

The vaccine is a follow-up to the MoU inked by MSD and Bio Farma back in December last year. According to Shadiq, the cooperation is a valuable opportunity for Bio Farma to extend its experience, knowledge, and technological ability to the global vaccine manufacturers.

"The first step of (Bio Farma and MSD) collaboration also motivates us to keep innovating to bring high-quality domestic vaccines," he said.

Managing Director of MSD Indonesia George Stylianou said that the launch of NusaGard is the peak of both companies' collaboration since 2016. "The success of HPV vaccine transfer to Bio Farma marks the first locally produced HPV vaccine in Indonesia," Stylianou said. He also hoped to witness NusaGard as part of the national HPV vaccination program this August.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Deputy of Health Industry of the ministry Aditya Dhanwantara said that the collaboration is hoped to be an active step toward health resilience in Indonesia. According to Aditya, the collaboration is the beginning of the contribution to improving the health industry in Indonesia.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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