PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - MSD (trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) and Bio Farma signed a framework agreement focused on technology transfer partnership to produce 15-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV15) locally in Indonesia.

The collaboration focuses on the development of locally produced PCV15 for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease, an infection caused by bacteria called streptococcus pneumoniae. The partnership is in line with Asta Cita Indonesia: Towards Indonesia Emas 2045, which focuses primarily on strengthening the resilience of the health system.

The agreement was signed in Jakarta by George Stylianou, Managing Director of MSD Indonesia, and Shadiq Akasya, President Director of Bio Farma, witnessed by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia, Aminuddin Ma'ruf, and President of MSD Asia Pacific, David Peacock.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of illness and death in infants and children in Indonesia, accounting for around 14.5% of infant deaths and 5% of deaths in children under five years of age 1. PCV15 specifically includes protection against serotypes 22F and 33F, and has demonstrated superior immunogenicity for serotype 3 compared to other PCV vaccines 2. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 3, 22F, and 33F are recognized as causes of pneumonia in various populations 3.

Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that vaccination is an important component in fighting pneumonia, and PCV15 will play an integral role in preventing the life-threatening disease of our children.

“This partnership not only supports our health transformation, whose third pillar focuses on health resilience in line with the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045 to improve the quality of life of the Indonesian people through the provision of adequate health services, but is also an important step towards improving our vaccination capabilities. This encourages the acceleration of improving health services and protecting future generations,” said Budi.

"The positive impact of this collaboration on health services underscores MSD's commitment to addressing Indonesia's pressing health challenges," he added.

President of Asia Pacific, MSD David Peacock stated that this partnership agreement builds on MSD's existing partnership with Bio Farma, which allows us to expand our PCV production and supply in Indonesia.

"At MSD, we are committed to increasing access to life-saving vaccines and addressing the burden of pneumococcal disease in Indonesia," said David.

David emphasized that today's collaboration reflects MSD's dedication to supporting Indonesia's aspirations to create a sustainable health environment and build a strong vaccination infrastructure.

"We hope to strengthen long-term cooperation with Bio Farma and improve the quality of health of Indonesia's future generations," he said.

Recognizing the heavy burden of pneumococcal disease in Indonesia, local production of PCV15 underscores a proactive approach to improving healthcare services. PCV15 protects against 15 strains of S. pneumoniae, including those associated with critical illness.

This agreement is also a significant step by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in supporting Asta Cita Indonesia, especially in strengthening downstream processing and industrialization to increase domestic value.

Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia Aminuddin Ma'ruf said that this partnership marks an important achievement in the effort to make Indonesia a world vaccine production center. This initiative is in line with the government's direction in strengthening the independence of the national health industry while building a more competitive pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Collaboration with global biopharmaceutical companies such as MSD will not only enhance our local capabilities but also ensure that Indonesia is able to meet international standards. The Ministry of SOEs continues to encourage strategic collaborations that accelerate innovation, increase the competitiveness of the national pharmaceutical industry, and ensure access to quality health services for all Indonesians.

This partnership continues the success of the technology transfer partnership between MSD and Bio Farma for the local production of the 4-valent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, NUSAGARD® which was launched in August 2023. The experience gained from the local production of the 4-valent HPV vaccine has contributed greatly to the current PCV15 technology transfer efforts, strengthening Bio Farma's capabilities in producing high-quality vaccines domestically.

Meanwhile, Bio Farma President Director Shadiq Akasya said that this partnership agreement not only increases the capability of vaccine production in Indonesia, but also reflects our commitment to supporting Asta Cita Indonesia and contributing to improving the health of the Indonesian people, through the ability to produce innovative vaccines locally,"

"We are very excited to work with MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, in achieving our goals. The continued partnership with MSD will continue to strengthen our vaccination capabilities, so that we can meet the health needs of the community and for a healthier future," concluded Shadiq. (no)