KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — AJ Pharma Holding Sdn Bhd is investing US$100 million (RM300 million) in the next three years to help improve the national supply of key vaccines.

In the first phase of its investment, the company plans to invest US$35 million to establish a vaccine manufacturing facility, which will be built in the next few months.

AJ Pharma managing director Dr Tabassum Khan said the company intends to develop paediatrics and epidemic vaccines once the facility is completed in three years.

“In terms of investments, the phase one for the vaccine is US$35 million. We already working with Centres for Disease Control to see what are the urgent needs,” he told reporters after the official opening of AJ Pharma’s corporate office here by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. S. Subramaniam.

AJ Pharma is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based investment group, Al Jomaih Group.

“We will start developing the vaccine locally, right from the basic research and development,” said Khan.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Biotechnology Corp chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal said the investment is the first significant investment in Malaysia for the manufacture of vaccines.

“They are looking for other opportunities and other investments in the field of healthcare. We hope within a couple of years, there will be new investments in significant areas,” said Mohd Nazlee. — Bernama