Bio Farma to Explore Immunotherapy Products for Cancer

(Jakarta 16/12) Bio Farma has expanded collaboration with two South Korean companie: ForeverNK Inc. and Aribio Co. Ltd. The beginning of this collaboration was signed in  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bio Farma and two companies based in Seongnam, regarding the exploration and development of potential business opportunities for therapeutic products for cancer treatment.

The products use "NK Cell Therapy" technology will be provided by ForeverNK Inc, meanwhile "NK Cell Conditioned Media" will be obtained from Aribio Co. Ltd.

NK (Natural Killer) Cells are innate lymphoid cells that provide early protection against cancer development by killing abnormal cells in the body that undergo cellular transformation without the need for prior stimulation. NK Cell therapy technology, will be provided by ForeverNK. Meanwhile, NK Cell Conditioned Media is a medium or 'place' for the growth of NK Cells to be made in a tissue culture made by Aribio.

This MoU was signed by the President Director of Bio Farma, Honesti Basyir, Chief Executive Officer ForeverNK, Jung Hoon Oh, and Vice Chariman, Soo-Hyun Sung, on December 16, 2019 in Jakarta.

In his spech, Honesti Basyir said, as state-owned pharmaceutical holding company (per last October 2019) Bio Farma will expand into the pharmaceutical product business especialy in immunotherapy , as the result this MoU.  “This collaboration is the beginning of the initiation of Bio Farma products for immunotherapy, especially for cancer.

As a first step together with two South Korean companies will develop and evaluate market potential opportunities, and set terms and conditions for evaluations related to NK Cell Therapy from ForeverNK and cosmetic products including NK Cell Conditioned Media from ARIBIO. ", said Honesti.

Honesti added, immunotherapy is a type of treatment that encourages our body's own immune system, to be more effective in fighting diseases, including cancer. Bio Farma will play a role in examining and evaluating technologies and products to use them in Indonesia, collabore with hospitals, applying for licenses, and then being marketed in Indonesia through clinical services.

Meanwhile, Fred Kim, representative of Aribio US, said that his party very welcomes to sign this MoU, because Bio Farma and ForeverNK have same philosophy, to dedicate this product for improve teh quality of live and through this give benefit to many people. We hope with this collaboration, will create a product that can be useful for a better life," said Fred. (ed/ss)