Duopharma Biotech Pursues Collaboration Opportunities in Qatar Outreach

Roundtable discussion and networking session hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Qatar sees promising potential following talks with Qatari officials, industry leaders and acdemicians

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12, 2024 -- Duopharma Biotech Berhad ("Duopharma Biotech" or "the Company") sees promising potential for collaboration following a roundtable discussion and business networking session in Doha, Qatar recently, hosted by the Embassy of Malaysia, Doha.

The Duopharma Biotech team was led by Group Managing Director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar, and included key personnel from the Company's International Business and Halal & Government Relations departments. On the Qatari side, the event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Municipality & Planning Affairs, as well as leading players in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and academicians from healthcare and medical fields.

At the roundtable session, Leonard Ariff spoke on "Scaling Up Healthcare with Innovative Opportunities" while special guest speaker Professor Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Acting Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University spoke on "Facilitating and Promoting Better Healthcare".

The discussions highlighted the accessibility of quality Halal pharmaceutical products, showcasing and enhancing awareness and practical understanding of pioneering Halal pharmaceutical standards such as the Malaysian standard MS 2424 and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) standard SMIIC 50-1, thus enhancing the value proposition of Halal quality assurance and compliance inQatar,among OIC and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members. Meanwhile, the networking session witnessed a vibrant exchange of ideas on advancing the future of healthcare - a significant step forward in potential collaboration and knowledge sharing, particularly in Halal pharmaceuticals.

"Globally, the integration of Halal and industry best practices is not just catalysing growth in the Islamic economy, but is also compatible with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards imperative for business sustainability, thus positioning Halal-focused government initiatives, and goods and services from the industry at a unique advantage. The halalan toyyiban concept is a process of adding assurance after Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The potential avenues for collaboration with Qatari companies and institutions are a segment of Duopharma Biotech's efforts to elevate the position of Halal pharmaceuticals within the global pharmaceutical landscape, in collaboration with stakeholders across the world. We aspire to produce a holistic range of safe, effective, quality Halal-certified products to enhance inclusivity in healthcare, enabling all patients to have choices in the therapies and medications they need for their well-being, as well as providing comprehensive information about treatment options as part of our patient-centric approach," Leonard Ariff said.

HE Zamshari Shaharan,Ambassador of Malaysia to Qatar emphasised the push for businesses and industries to strengthen bilateral relations between Qatar and Malaysia. "The trip by the Duopharma Biotech team was well-timed, as it was followed by an official visit by YAB Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Qatar soon after, where the Prime Minister reiterated Malaysia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Qatar, particularly in trade and investment. The Prime Minister's roundtable dialogue with prominent Qatari captains of industry including representatives from various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare and education created positive outcomes. Furthermore, the growing interest in Halal goods and services in Qatar in recent years promises broad avenues for future collaboration between the two countries. Halal comprises stringent processes and the highest standards for consumers in addition to compliance with religious values," he explained.

Duopharma Biotech's initiatives in growing the Halal pharmaceuticals sector includes organising the Halal Pharmaceuticals Symposium since 2016, which gathers international experts, industry leaders and standards and regulatory agencies to advance the integration of Halal pharmaceuticals into the global healthcare system. At the symposium, participants exchange ideas and opinions, share best practices and successes and collaborate to solve challenges faced by the Halal pharmaceutical industry. This year, the Company will organise the latest Halal Pharmaceuticals Symposium in September 2024.

Since 1999, Duopharma Biotech has pioneered a range of Halal-certified health supplements, including CHAMPS, Flavettes, Proviton and Naturalle products, in compliance with MS 1500:2009 standards. In 2022, the Company recorded a new milestone when it became the first pharmaceutical company to receive Halal certification for an oncology product from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). Duopharma Biotech also complies with the Malaysian Standard on Halal Pharmaceuticals MS 2424:2019, which provides clear guidance on the requirements for producing Halal pharmaceuticals.

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