Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Etana Biotechnologies aimed at accelerating the clinical development of its anti-infective portfolio across Indonesia and potentially South East Asia. The MoU with this leading Indonesian biomedical organisation aims to address the critical global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) while supporting the Indonesian Government’s access to novel infectious disease medicines. “The global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance is a pressing issue on the world stage,” Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Sadikin said. “Indonesia welcomes collaborative initiatives and supports efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, including the development of innovative therapeutics for infectious diseases.” ASEAN potential With this agreement, Recce now could access 10 ASEAN member states covering a population of 670 million inhabitants, many with unmet medical needs particular to the region. Recce Pharmaceuticals CEO James Graham said: “This bilateral collaboration between Recce and Etana, signifies the Australian and Indonesian governments’ shared commitment to advancing public health, fostering innovation, and addressing the global challenge of AMR in the Asia Pacific region. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can make significant strides towards a healthier and more resilient future for both our nations and the global community.” Key objectives Recce will work with Etana to accelerate its clinical program, leveraging speed, accessibility, cost-efficiency — including significant government subsidies — and quality. This collaboration draws on the support of the Australian and Indonesian governments, along with industry specialists, facilitating Recce’s entry and expansion into new international markets, and opening new opportunities. During a meeting that included senior executives from Recce and Etana, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams PSM, Minister Sadikin and the head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), expressed unanimous support for this venture. Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Sodikin addressing ambassador Penny Williams and RCE CEO James Graham. Indonesia is experiencing a pressing demand for novel therapeutics, with the government intensifying efforts to combat infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Notably, more than 10% of the adult population, amounting to 19.5 million individuals, are afflicted with diabetes, a condition that significantly increases the risk of foot infections, urinary tract infections and surgical site infections. Additionally, a recent study highlighted that 15% of sepsis patients in Indonesian hospitals were diagnosed with diabetes. “Health science and biomedicine is an important area in Indonesia’s research and innovation. We need to build a national capability, especially after the lesson of the recent pandemic,” BRIN (Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency) chairman Laksana Tri Handoko said. “This collaboration is a continuation of the close relationship we have with Australia, which I see will grow moving forward. We want to build our expertise together and I look forward to the work to start with us.” What is Etana? Founded in 2014, Etana is a biopharmaceutical company in Indonesia, dedicated to researching, manufacturing, and marketing biological therapies across South East Asia. With a core mission of serving patients by delivering high-quality, cost-effective and innovative treatments, Etana has established a cutting-edge local production facility that adheres to international standards and the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. This facility is distinguished by its ability to manufacture biological therapies that are certified halal by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Etana’s ambition is to become a frontrunner in the ASEAN biopharmaceutical sector, driven by a strategy of aggressive expansion in both production capacity and product development. The company is committed to fostering innovation and affordability in therapies through local production, thereby aligning with the Indonesian government’s healthcare initiatives and addressing broader market needs. The work Etana is doing fits in nicely with Recce’s development of a New Class of Synthetic Anti-Infectives designed to address the urgent global health problems of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and emerging viral pathogens. Pictured above: Recce Pharmaceuticals CEO James Graham (left) and Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Sadiki.
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