Indonesia Secures Rp539 Billion Japanese Investment to Build Plasma-Derived Medicine Ecosystem

The Indonesian government is preparing to build an ecosystem for Plasma-Derived Medicinal Products (PDMP), with plasma collection banks officially targeted to begin operations in the country by 2027. According to the Ministry of Health, the government is collaborating with Japanese firm Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical company that operates the BioLife plasma network, to execute the project. The Ministry of Health signed the cooperation agreement with Takeda in Jakarta on Monday, granting a fractionation licence to build the first upstream-to-downstream plasma ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that this strategic partnership is a concrete step by the government to ensure self-sufficiency and sustainable access to essential therapies for all levels of society. “Through close collaboration with trusted global partners like Takeda, Indonesia will be able to accelerate the development of a more resilient healthcare system, so that Indonesia is now ready to face the future,” Menkes Budi said. In the initial two-year phase, Takeda is injecting funds of up to USD30 million, equivalent to Rp539 billion, to pursue the operational target of the BioLife plasma collection network in Indonesia by 2027. Budi Gunadi explained that Takeda’s global manufacturing network will handle fractionation while Indonesia’s domestic manufacturing facilities are still undergoing feasibility assessment. He confirmed that the Japanese company has committed to prioritising domestic needs and is currently reviewing regulatory requirements to build a state-of-the-art plasma-derived therapy factory in Indonesia. The urgency of building a plasma ecosystem in Indonesia is driven by increasing global demand for PDMPs. Most Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, face limited therapy access due to low diagnosis rates and limited public awareness of medical conditions requiring PDMPs. Ramy Riad, President of Plasma-Derived Therapies at Takeda, welcomed the expanded strategic collaboration, stating the company’s commitment to leveraging its global scientific expertise to support Indonesia’s long-term healthcare goals. He noted that building the PDMP ecosystem will create high-skilled job opportunities, particularly for local healthcare workers and laboratory technicians. The cooperation involves not only the Ministry of Health but also the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming. Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani assessed the collaboration as a long-term investment that brings opportunities for technology transfer, national human resource development, and job creation, adding that the partnership will support Indonesia’s ambition to become a regional hub for health innovation and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.