BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated during a broadcast here on Monday that according to Global Fund International, 65 percent of the drugs currently in the market are biological products, and some of them are ATMPs, which are projected to be trending.
"When we talk about the advanced part of that 65 percent, they are products based on cell therapy, genetic therapy, and tissue engineering," he explained.
Citing the WHO, he pointed to a shift in the global diseases trend, initially dominated by infectious diseases, though has been overtaken by non-infectious ailments, such as degenerative disease, metabolic disease, stroke, cardiomyopathy, and cancer.
"Death, on global average, is caused in 71 percent of the cases due to non-infectious diseases. In Indonesia, it is even bigger. Some 73 percent of deaths in Indonesia are caused by non-infectious diseases," Ikrar stated.
According to Ikrar, if chemical synthetic medicines are used to treat such diseases, it will cause drug dependence in patients. He noted that it does not heal them and additionally places an economic burden on the state.
One such example is the use of medicines with blocking properties to treat hypertension that merely address the symptoms of the disease.
However, he noted that by using ATMPs, a more precise treatment can be delivered, for instance, for transplants. He said tissue engineering can be used to create a whole new organ. Ikrar opined that this is handy while transplanting a singular organ like the liver.
Moreover, it also bypasses problems like seeking a donor or a rejection of the donated organ by the patient's body. Thus, investing in development of the knowledge can bring a major impact on people globally and for Indonesians, he remarked.
"Regarding the treatment process, the impact will be more measured, but indeed, we still struggle to do research, given this field is still developing. That is first. Secondly, in terms of the business plan, it is time for companies to invest in this. Do not be late," he remarked.
Currently, only four companies in Indonesia have been certified for cell therapy good manufacturing practice.
The BPOM expressed its commitment to developing knowledge about ATMPs and also sought contributions from stakeholders, such as companies, the industry, academics, and members of the general public.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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