BPOM strives to strengthen ABG collaboration to pursue ATMP innovation in Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) is working to strengthen collaboration between universities, the business world, and the government (ABG) regarding Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) by delivering material during a guest lecture at Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L University).
“BPOM’s main target is to assist the wider public in the availability of innovative medicines. However, on the other hand, it will also impact the industries. As a regulator, our intention is to help and serve, not to complicate the licensing process,” stated BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar.
He said in Jakarta on Wednesday that synergistic collaboration can enhance optimal healthcare services for the public. This approach through such forums is considered important to ensure that innovations in gene, cell, and biotechnology-based therapies can develop more quickly. Yet, they must remain within strict corridors of safety, efficacy, and quality.
He explained that his agency applies an academia-business-government (ABG) collaboration model to optimise the process from research to commercialisation of health innovations. In this concept, academics play a role in developing basic and applied research as well as preparing expert personnel.
He highlighted global developments showing significant acceleration in biology-based therapies. Thousands of gene therapy, cell therapy, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) products are currently being developed in various countries. In fact, some have already been used for patients.
“These developments are seen to have a direct impact on society because they open up opportunities for more personal and precise treatments, especially for chronic diseases, cancer, and genetic disorders,” he said.
In supporting such innovations, the agency’s role is not only as a supervisor but also as a facilitator. Supervision, he said, is carried out comprehensively from the research stage, non-clinical and clinical trials, to post-production monitoring. With this approach, the public is expected to gain access to innovative therapies that are not only modern but also guaranteed in terms of safety and quality.
Nevertheless, ATMP development still faces several challenges, such as production complexity, the need for long-term clinical data, and safety aspects that must be continuously monitored. This demands ongoing readiness from all stakeholders, both in terms of regulation, infrastructure, and human resources.
BPOM also emphasises the importance of accelerating the downstreaming of university research results so that they can truly be utilised by the public. Through ABG collaboration, research outcomes are expected not to stop at the laboratory stage but to be developed into real products available in healthcare services.