Meeting of minds: Monash University Malaysia vice-president (Research and Development) Prof Datuk Dr Ir Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan (fourth from left), president and pro chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman (centre), Monash co-organizing chairperson associate professor Alice Chuah Lay Hongand (fourth from right), APDSC chairperson Dr Fu Ju Yen (third from right) with presidents and leaders from local chapters of Malaysia, Australia, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand posing for a group photo during the opening ceremony of APDSC 2024 at Monash University Malaysia.— LOW LAY PHON/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Amid an ageing population and a shortage of doctors in the public healthcare system, there is a growing need for effective and efficient drug delivery.
Towards this end, close to 200 industry experts from across the region came together at the Asia Pacific Delivery Science Conference (APDSC) in the hopes of potentially making new innovations in the essential drug delivery industry.
Organised by the Malaysia Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (MyCRS), the three-day event that began yesterday, welcomed industry experts from Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Held at Monash University Malaysia, participants took part in various informative plenary sessions on innovative aspects of the drug delivery industry that includes the use of nanotechnology and biotechnology, among others.
Monash University Malaysia President and pro vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the conference is another step towards improving regional healthcare systems.
“Improving drug delivery systems will enable our healthcare systems to move away from the need to always see doctors like me, especially as the world faces a global shortage of healthcare professionals.
“Possible innovations may even enable pharmacists to deliver these new innovations to those who need it at far affordable cost compared to delivering healthcare in a hospital setting,” she said in her opening speech at the conference’s launch.
As an example of such innovation, Prof Adeeba noted the recent landmark study that was released in July on the long-acting injectable lenacapavir, which demonstrated 100% efficacy for HIV prevention when injected bi-annually in its trials.
“Imagine someone who is at high risk of HIV, just needing to visit a pharmacy only twice a year for an injection. That is the level of crucial innovation we need to push for,” said Prof Adeeba, who is also Monash University Malaysia pro vice-chancellor.
MyCRS president Dr Fu Ju Yen shared similar views, noting the conference’s potential to help transform Malaysia into a regional hub for innovative drug delivery development.
“By utilising Malaysia’s strategic centralised location in the Asia-Pacific region, the hope is to turn this conference into an annual event that allows for all scientists and industry experts to join hands in building our overall regional capacity.
Collaboration with society local chapters from the Asia Pacific region make this possible. This year, we are joined by local chapters from Chinese-Taipei, Australia and New Zealand.
“We also hope to promote Malaysia as a source for natural resources and raw materials, which are then used to create new innovations in the drug delivery industry,” she said in an interview with The Star.
Being an expert in nanotechnology, Dr Fu noted that one such example is improving the drug delivery of tocotrienol, a by-product of local palm oil that has neuroprotective and antioxidant properties.
Monash co-organising chairperson Associate Professor Alice Chuah Lay Hong said in a statement that the delivery of tocotrienol through nanoformulation techniques can significantly increase the drug’s solubility and stability, increasing the efficacy of each dose of the drug.
“This not only potentially lowers the dosage of drugs needed to be consumed for it to be effective, but also reduces the risk of toxicity and side effects.
“It brings down the cost of the drugs for users while also supporting our national push for a circular economy by utilising the by-product of palm oil production more efficiently,” she said.
However, in a plenary speech by the founder of MyCRS, Prof Dr Mohd Cairul Iqbal Mohd Amin said there were challenges faced by scientists in getting drug delivery industry players to adopt new innovations.
“APDSC aims to help cultivate cooperation and discussion with them on how to bring down costs for these innovative technologies.
“It will then make it easier for all industry players in the region to adopt innovative technologies which in turn, benefits the people by improving treatment quality while making essential drugs more accessible,” she said.
The conference is also supported by sponsors from both local and multinational companies, including Biotek Abadi Sdn Bhd, Profes Lipid Sdn Bhd, Boston Micro Fabrication, Gaia Science-SOTAX, DKSH Technologies, ASEPTEC Sdn Bhd, Cidols Sdn Bhd, Flaktek, Eppendorf, Merck, IKA Works Sdn Bhd, and Anton Paar, ensuring a robust platform for industrial-academic networking.
