Biocon, Duopharma Secure Rs 450 Crore Malaysia Insulin Supply Contracts to Boost Diabetes Care

Under these agreements, Biocon Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, a subsidiary of Biocon, will supply short-acting recombinant human insulin, insulin glargine and insulin aspart for distribution in Malaysia, supporting continued access to affordable, high-quality insulin therapies for people living with diabetes.

According to the company, the contracts comprise a three-year agreement worth approximately MYR 155.27 million for recombinant human insulin, along with two separate two-year contracts valued at around MYR 18 million for insulin glargine and MYR 52.5 million for insulin aspart. Biocon stated that the agreements are aligned with the objectives of Malaysia's 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), which focus on strengthening medicine accessibility and healthcare outcomes.

Commenting on the development, Shreehas Tambe, CEO and Managing Director, Biocon Limited, said Malaysia has remained central to Biocon's insulin strategy for more than a decade, supported by the company's integrated insulin manufacturing facility in Johor, which is the largest such facility in Asia. He noted that the site enables large-scale insulin production, helping expand patient access in Malaysia and globally while supporting Biocon's mission of making life-changing medicines affordable and accessible.

Joe Sian, Site Head, Biocon Sdn. Bhd., said the collaboration with Duopharma Biotech has significantly improved access to insulin therapies in Malaysia. He noted that an estimated 4.75 million people in the country are living with diabetes, making an uninterrupted and affordable insulin supply essential. He added that the partnership supports patients through Biocon's complete insulin portfolio.

Encik Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid, Group Chief Executive Officer of Duopharma Biotech Berhad, said the company is marking a decade of collaboration with Biocon while continuing to strengthen Malaysia's healthcare ecosystem through the new insulin contracts. He emphasized that strong domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities are critical to safeguarding access to essential medicines, enhancing national medicine security and supporting healthcare self-reliance.

Biocon stated that it has collaborated with Duopharma Biotech since 2016 to address Malaysia's growing diabetes burden. During this period, more than 120 million insulin cartridges have been supplied to Ministry of Health facilities, benefiting over 450,000 patients within Malaysia's public healthcare system. Beyond diabetes care, the partnership has also extended to oncology for more than seven years and has recently expanded into ophthalmology biologics, further improving access to biologic therapies in the country.

The company highlighted that Biocon Sdn. Bhd., located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, operates one of Asia's largest integrated insulin manufacturing facilities, producing recombinant human insulin and insulin analogues. The facility has fully integrated drug substance manufacturing and fill-finish capabilities for vials, cartridges and insulin delivery devices, manufacturing regular, long-acting and rapid-acting insulin products for both Malaysian and international markets.

Biocon further stated that the Johor site houses advanced research and development, quality assurance and quality control laboratories supported by a comprehensive quality management system. Employing more than 1,100 people, the company has invested over USD 600 million in the facility since 2011, making it one of the largest foreign direct investments in Malaysia's biotechnology sector.

The facility has received regulatory approvals from Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ireland's Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) under the European Medicines Agency framework, the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Brazil's ANVISA, and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). According to Biocon, it remains the only manufacturing facility in Malaysia approved by both the EMA framework and the US FDA for sterile biologic products.

Biocon stated that its investments have helped reduce Malaysia's dependence on imported insulin while improving affordability, availability and price stability for patients. The company also recently partnered with the Malaysian government under the MyMAHIR BioTechies initiative to support biotechnology workforce development by helping train graduates and bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The new insulin contracts reinforce the company's long-term commitment to diabetes care in Malaysia while expanding access to essential insulin therapies through its partnership with Duopharma Biotech. The company also highlighted its broader global operations spanning more than 120 countries, supported by seven manufacturing facilities, three R&D centres, 18 global offices, a workforce of over 9,500 employees, and a portfolio of 12 commercialized biosimilars, over 30 generic formulations and a pipeline of more than 20 biosimilars, GLP-1 peptides and complex generics.