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7 . Apex Healthcare Berhad
Market cap : RM1.9 bil APEX Healthcare Berhad was founded in 1962 as a retail pharmacy in Melaka . Today , it is an integrated pharmaceutical company – engaged in the development , manufacturing , sales & marketing , distribution and wholesaling of pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare products – with operating subsidiaries in Malaysia and Singapore and offices in Vietnam and Myanmar . Apex is listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM1.9 billion .
According to the Group , the pharmaceutical industry is less likely to be affected by slowing economic growth as the demand for medicines is generally non-cyclical . For the last three financial years – marked by the Covid-19 pandemic – Apex strengthened supply chain resilience , increased production capacity , and responded quickly to meet changing market demands as the pandemic evolved .
This enabled the healthcare Group to consistently deliver good year-on-year growth in revenue and profit over three years . It believes it can provide another satisfactory performance in 2023 and is confident of its longer-term growth prospects .
Moving forward , Apex will continue to stay anchored on its proven fundamentals . It consistently invests in new initiatives to sustain and drive growth through economic cycles .
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The Group said it would continue to focus on securing commercially relevant and globally recognised manufacturing and distribution certifications , accelerating the research and development of new pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products , and identifying and sourcing new in-demand products to meet anticipated market demands .
On Apr 28 , Apex ’ s 40 per cent owned associate Straits Apex Group Sdn Bhd ( SAG ) announced it was divesting its entire stake in Straits Apex Sdn Bhd ( SA ) to healthcare-focused private equity firm Quadria Capital . The disposal consideration , based on an enterprise value of US $ 240 million ( RM1.06 billion ), was completed on May 11 .
In September 2022 , Apex , through its wholly-owned Singapore subsidiary , First SGC Pte Ltd , entered an agreement with Shanghai Pharmaceutical Import & Export Co ., Ltd ., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co . Ltd ., to subscribe S $ 1.2 million ( RM3.9 million ) for 40 per cent stake in a Singapore joint venture company .
Apex is helmed by its chairman and CEO , Dr Kee Kirk Chin . The major shareholder of Apex is Kee and his brother Kee Kirk Chuen with a stake of 39.84 per cent held through Apex Pharmacy Holdings Sdn Bhd .
8 . Duopharma Biotech Berhad
Market cap : RM1.4 bil DUOPHARMA Biotech Berhad is one of Malaysia ’ s leading pharmaceutical companies listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM1.4 billion .
It is engaged in the manufacturing , research & development , commercialisation , and marketing of
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over 300 generic drugs and consumer healthcare products . It has also diversified into the biosimilars space with technology and commercialisation collaborations with credible and strong international partners . Duopharma was the first Malaysian pharmaceutical company to commercialise biosimilars in the Malaysian market with the introduction of Zuhera and ERYSAA ® in 2019 .
In April , the Group established a wholly-owned subsidiary , PT Duopharma Healthcare Indonesia in Indonesia . In a statement on Apr 12 , Duopharma announced it had received confirmation of approval from Indonesia ’ s Ministry of Law and Human Rights .
“ The establishment of this subsidiary is a testament to Duopharma Biotech ’ s confidence in the potential of Indonesia ’ s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector ,” Duopharma ’ s Group MD Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar said .
“ We are committed to strengthening collaborations with Indonesian partners and exploring new strategic investments in the most promising segments .”
Meanwhile , Duopharma is contracted to supply Insugen-Insulin Recombinant Human Formulations to the Ministry of Health facilities for three years until April 2025 , for RM375 million . In addition , the contract to provide pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical products to government hospitals and clinics has been further extended until June 30 , 2023 .
Duopharma will continue exploring new opportunities to expand its product portfolio in the country ’ s health and wellness sector as a leading pharmaceutical company and strengthen its commitment to the halal industry . A total of 335 out of 339 of its active products were halal-certified as at Dec 31 , 2022 .
Duopharma was the first pharmaceutical company in the world to receive halal certification awarded by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ) for an oncology product , LEBRETA ( Letrozole used against breast cancer ). In 2017 , it achieved another milestone when it became the first pharmaceutical manufacturer to obtain halal
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9 . TMC Life Sciences Berhad
Market cap : RM1 bil TMC Life Sciences Berhad ( TMCLS ) operates an integrated healthcare platform which includes Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara ( THKD ), TMC Fertility Centre , TMC Care Pharmacy and Thomson TCM .
Since January last year , TMCLS has embarked on a major expansion plan with significant additional capacity and capabilities . The plan includes expanding its flagship hospital , THKD , and developing a new integrated medical hub – Thomson Iskandar – in Johor Bahru .
The expansion project will triple THKD ’ s capacity , making THKD one of the largest private healthcare institutions in the region . With this expanding hospital as a base , the Group can innovate and identify new growth opportunities .
THKD received its operating licence from the Ministry of Health in March 2022 for its new buildings , including the new oncology unit . THKD also unveiled a new nuclear medicine imaging system for precise cancer detection , making it the first medical facility in the Asia Pacific region to offer this technology .
As for the Thomson Iskandar Medical Hub project , the Group aims to complete the hospital within 12 to 24 months after the Rapid Transit System project at Bukit Chagar is fully operational .
Meanwhile , the Group is confident that the increased capacity in THKD and the recovery of the fertility business – TMC Fertility at THKD houses one of the largest IVF laboratories in Southeast Asia – are expected to contribute positively to the growth of the Group going forward .
Integrated healthcare will continue to prudently manage spending and monitor possible margin challenges to ensure the Group ’ s profitability is not significantly affected by worldwide inflationary pressures and disruptions to global logistics and supply chains brought on by geo-political instabilities .
TMCLS , which has a market capitalisation of RM1 billion , is spearheaded by its executive director and group CEO , Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob . The healthcare company is 70.13 per cent owned by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim Eng Hock via Sasteria ( M ) Pte Ltd . – The Health
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