Malaysia backs biotechnology

Misssouri-based medical genomics company GenoMed will link up with Malaysian company PhenoMed, encouraged by the Malaysian government that is currently keen to push biotechnology advances in the country.

"We have a large bioinformatics research project being readied as well as several other alliances under consideration. The synergy of this partnership is nothing short of amazing, and it will prosper,"​ said PhenoMed's interim chief operating cfficer, Ezehan Reza.

From the public health point of view, PhenoMed will provide the US company with an immediate research base for conducting its clinical trial against SARS. "Malaysia suffered somewhat from the SARS epidemic last spring, and is already gearing up for SARS' recurrence this fall. It has proved difficult to acquire any SARS patients operating only from St. Louis,"​ said Dr. David W. Moskowitz, CEO of GenoMed.

"We are thrilled to have a Malaysian partner for a number of reasons essential to our rapid growth as a medical genomics company. We also hope that PhenoMed will open the doors to additional highly desirable partnerships in Asia, such as with pharmaceutical companies, clinical diagnostic laboratories, physician and patient groups and national health ministries,"​ he added.

This exciting collaboration will be the direct beneficiary of Malaysia's drive to assume its place on the world stage, concluded Ezehan Reza.