Malaysia's Pharmaniaga LifeScience Sdn Bhd (PLS) and Pharmaniaga Berhad have signed a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) with BioNet-Asia Co. Ltd of Thailand for the development of a 6-in-1 combination vaccine (Hexavalent vaccine) for children’s healthcare. 

The combinational vaccine formulation will use BioNet formulation to develop Hexavalent vaccine in Malaysia by the end of 2023.

The initiative is in line with Pharmaniaga’s plan of establishing the world’s first Halal vaccine plant. The production of vaccines locally will reduce costs for the Government as well as to ensure drug security for the nation. Hexavalent vaccine is currently used in Malaysia National Immunisation Programme (NIP) and fully imported.

Pharmaniaga Group Managing Director Datuk Zulkarnain said, "Pharmaniaga will proceed in conducting pre-clinical trials and extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the protective immune response with Hexavalent vaccine that protects against six diseases i.e., diphtheria (DT), tetanus (TT), pertussis (aP), poliomyelitis (IPV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and hepatitis B (Hep-B) diseases".

The Hexavalent vaccine is expected to complete its pre-clinical and clinical development, registration, manufacturing and expected to be commercialised in 2026. Hexavalent vaccine will be made available for the use in Malaysia with a projected annual market value of RM200 million and the annual market demand regionally is estimated an approximate value of RM500 to RM600 million.