ETANA STRENGTHENS COOPERATION WITH BRIN AND UNSW, SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN HEALTH FIELDS
Jakarta, 22 September 2023 – PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia (Etana), an indigenous Indonesian biopharmaceutical company which is the first company in ASEAN to have an mRNA technology platform, collaborates with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia in the development of research and innovation in the health sector, particularly in mRNA technology.
The signing of cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three parties was carried out after a visit by BRIN and UNSW to Etana to see the mRNA production facilities as well as the laboratories available to support the downstreaming of the mRNA platform-based research results.
Liauw Tek Kim, Finance Director at Etana said, “mRNA technology is a platform that is adjustable in the development of drugs and vaccines as a response to the urgent demand for innovative and flexible biopharmaceutical products for cancer, infectious diseases and other diseases.”
"By signing this memorandum of understanding, the three parties can develop mRNA-based therapy starting from designing research ideas to producing biological products and vaccine products in Indonesia to support the Indonesian government in national research and the health sector," he continued.
R. Hendrian, Deputy for Utilization of Research and Innovation at BRIN, said, "Through two activities, that are visiting the laboratory at PT Etana and FGD in the KST Soekarno Cibinong area, our party hopes this will strengthen our collaboration further."
"Even though this three-party partnership has only just begun, its implementation and benefits can already be felt. "Especially for researchers in health research organizations and the Biological and Environmental Research Organization as well as research centers under them, i.e. the Vaccine and Drug Research Center, the Engineering and Genetics Research Center," he concluded.
It is known that mRNA technology is a revolutionary technology in the development of biological products which became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic. With mRNA technology, the COVID-19 vaccine had been successfully promptly developed, and the resulting vaccine has a good safety and efficacy profile.
Therefore, mRNA technology will be continuously developed in the discovery of new biological products, including through the collaboration between Etana, BRIN and UNSW.
Etana at a glance
Established in 2014, Etana is an Indonesian biopharmaceutical company that researches, manufactures and markets biological therapies for the Southeast Asian market. With a mission to serve patients by providing high quality, affordable, and innovative therapies, the company has built state-of-the-art local production facility that meet international and Indonesian FDA standards. The facility is able to produce biological therapy with halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Etana aspires to become a leading biopharmaceutical company in the ASEAN region through aggressive expansion in production capacity and product development, with a primary focus on oncology and vaccine products.
Etana is led by a local management team who come from various international and domestic educational backgrounds and have strong experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, and are supported by a team of international investors and leading biopharmaceutical companies. Etana aims to provide innovative yet affordable therapies through local production, to support Indonesian government programs and larger market demands. Etana is currently a leading biotech company in Indonesia committed to the research and manufacture of monoclonal antibodies, mRNAs and other biological platforms.