General Atlantic backs Indonesia biotech developer

The company, also known as KGBio, is a joint venture between Kalbe Farma, a healthcare and pharmaceuticals company in Indonesia, and Genexine, a biotech developer in Korea. The plan is to combine Kalbe Farma’s distribution capabilities and global networks with Genexine’s clinical expertise to create a regionally leading biologicals platform.

Biological products are highly complex molecules made from living organisms with delicate handling requirements. Biologics has emerged as an important category of drug development in the past 20 years, with breakthrough advances in disease management. Work in this field often includes manufacturing generic versions of existing biologics called biosimilars.

KGBio operates across the clinical development, manufacturing, and in-licensing of both novel biologicals and biosimilar molecules, with immuno-oncology a key focus area. The company has two drugs in phase-three studies. One of these is a treatment for multiple tumor indications, including certain types of lung and liver cancer, as well as chronic hepatitis B infections. The other focuses on anemia related to chronic kidney disease.

“As a global player in life sciences, General Atlantic brings an extensive network and deep expertise in innovation that KGBio aims to leverage,” Sie Djohan, a director at Kalbe Farma and CEO of KGBio, said in a statement. “Having made considerable progress in the clinical development, regulatory approvals and commercialization of our novel and biosimilar molecules, we aim to further expand our portfolio and reach with the support of Genexine and General Atlantic as our partners.”

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• Topics
• Southeast Asia
• Healthcare
• Technology
• Expansion
• Indonesia
• General Atlantic
• Pharmaceuticals