KUALA LUMPUR, FEB 13 – AJ Pharma Group has successfully completed its first global vaccine business acquisition in Denmark. The 100% acquisition creates an independent vaccines production business from the Danish Government-owned Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
Renamed AJ Vaccines, this new entity is an already established and internationally recognised vaccine manufacturer that produces strategic vaccines such as inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), BCG, and others that are critical for public health, and will significantly contribute towards achieving national vaccine self-reliance in Malaysia.
The completion of this acquisition is a significant milestone in the AJ Pharma Group’s global strategy to create a stronger presence in the vaccine market across the world. Most significantly, AJ Vaccines complements the Group’s ongoing project to establish a vaccine formulation, fill and finish facility in Malaysia through AJ Biologics Sdn Bhd.
Dr Tabassum Khan, Chairman of AJ Vaccines says, “With this acquisition of AJ Vaccines in Denmark we are now one step closer to achieving our vision of becoming a top vaccines player in the world. Together with our ongoing project which is establishing a vaccine formulation, fill and finish facility in Malaysia; we are now in a prime position to achieve economic, social and humanitarian objectives, for Malaysia and beyond. AJ Vaccines opens new avenues for strengthening growth of the vaccines industry and achieving national vaccine self-reliance in Malaysia. We acknowledge and value the continued encouragement and support of the Government of Malaysia in realising our goals.”
“The wider production portfolio of AJ Vaccines is synergistic to the Group’s purpose of bringing a balanced pediatric and adult vaccine range to meet the public health needs of Malaysia along with targeted regional and global markets. In line with national objectives under the purview of the Healthcare ETP and Vision 2020 of the National Biotechnology Policy, this acquisition will also see technology transfer and human capital development from the Danish facility into Malaysia,” he adds.
The Danish acquisition will enable the AJ Pharma Group to leverage the established vaccine portfolio and manufacturing expertise that SSI has built over the years. Alongside this, SSI’s public health image and legacy across many countries will also benefit the group largely.
Moreover, it will strengthen the AJ Pharma Group’s on-going endeavour to establish Malaysia’s first vaccine formulation, fill and finish facility that adheres to cGMP and international accreditation standards. With a committed investment of USD45 million, the AJ Biologics facility located in Bandar Enstek is on track to be operational by Q4 2018. This project has also been awarded BioNexus status and is recognised as an entry-point-project under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA).
AJ Vaccine’s business has also been widely recognized for its contribution in research and production of vaccines for infectious diseases and biological threats. The strategic acquisition sees the two parties jointly collaborating to plan, transfer knowledge and manage expertise in developing the vaccines industry in Malaysia and worldwide.
The Group is committed towards production of the best quality vaccines under international standards. Under the AJ Vaccines portfolio, it has a vaccine for polio that is developed without any animal component. Animal component-free vaccines are the first step towards certification for halal, making it a better choice for everyone.
“People are the most important asset of a business, and with AJ Vaccines we are proud to take over a team of professionals who will strengthen our expertise to succeed globally. At the AJ Pharma Group, we have always believed that for any sustainable business, the benefits should trickle down to the community level. With this thought at the core of our business philosophy, we are proud to be part of the global ecosystem that provides immunisation and supplies vaccines for all communities. In our belief, this is the best amalgamation of business and humanitarian service,” said Sheikh Abdulaziz Hamad Al Jomaih, Chairman, AJ Pharma Group.