MARCH-APRIL , 2023 | THE HEALTH

DUOPHARMA Biotech Berhad registered its highest-ever revenue in five years of RM696.72 million for the year ended Dec 31 , 2022 , a nine per cent increase from RM638.18 million the preceding year . In the same period , net profit rose 6.74 per cent to RM70.11 million from RM65.68 million , while profit before tax saw an increase of 2.25 per cent to RM84.85 million from RM82.98 million in 2021 .

Duopharma Biotech Group Managing Director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar said , “ The record revenue in FY2022 is underpinned by higher sales to the prescription pharmaceutical market and public health sector . The Government ’ s continued emphasis on improving public healthcare funding bodes well for the Group , coupled with anticipated growth in the Malaysian economy in 2023 , offering potential opportunities to innovate and expand our market . We foresee another positive year in 2023 , barring unexpected developments .”

“ In addition , with the extension of the special reinvestment allowance incentive under the PENJANA stimulus package , until the year of assessment 2024 , the Group may also enjoy potential savings of around RM10 million upon completion of the qualifying assets , including K3 by 2024 ,” he said .

Duopharma Biotech 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 supply pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products to Government hospitals and clinics has been further extended until June 30 , 2023 .

Earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31 , 2022 amounted to 1.8 sen , taking the total earnings per share for FY2022 to 7.39 sen . For the financial year ended Dec 31 , 2022 , the Board of Directors declared a second interim dividend of 1.8 sen ( 2021 : a second interim dividend of 1.8 sen per share ) equivalent to RM 17.14 million ( 2021 : RM

TYPE 2 diabetes ( T2D ) continues to be among the pinnacle of chronic conditions affecting Malaysians , with an estimated number of 3.9 million Malaysians above 18 suffering from T2D . The number will likely continue to grow by 2025 .

Datuk Dr Zanariah , Consultant Endocrinologist of Hospital Putrajaya , said the number of patients with T2D had grown steadily over the years . Patients with T2D risk contracting other afflictions , such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases .

Dr Zanariah also noted that part of this issue is the difficulty of patients who have diabetes to change their lifestyle to a healthy one , including the addition of the lack of compliance with their medication .

The record revenue in FY2022 is underpinned by higher sales to the prescription pharmaceutical market and public health sector .”

– Leonard Ariff

16.95 million ).

This brings the total dividend for FY2022 to 2.3 sen per share , including an earlier interim dividend of 0.5 sen per share , equivalent to RM 4.76 million paid on Sept 14 , 2022 . The Board also resolved that the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“ DRP ”) approved by shareholders would apply to the dividend .

Duopharma Biotech recently became the first pharmaceutical company to receive Halal certification for an oncology product from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ). Duopharma Biotech is today one of Malaysia ’ s leading pharmaceutical companies listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia .

Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur , Duopharma Biotech owns and operates three manufacturing plants in Klang , Bangi and Glenmarie in Selangor . It also has subsidiary companies in the Philippines and Singapore .

A study by Teng CL , published in the Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies , analysed that 34.2 per cent of diabetes Malaysian patients took less than their prescribed medicines .

Dr Rohana Abdul Ghani , Professor of Medicine and Consultant Endocrinologist at Universiti Teknologi MARA , said several factors affected a patient ’ s compliance with their medication , such as the number of medications they needed , the number of doses to take and the number of times they need to take them .

She also shared that there have been advancements in treating diabetes . Advances in medicine have produced new therapies such as glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists ( GLP-1 RAs ) that mimic naturally occurring GLP-1 hormones within the body that increases insulin secretion from the pancreas to control blood sugar levels . Additionally , Dr Rohana said there is development to take GLP-1 RAs orally .

Datuk Sri Dr Azhari Rosman , Senior Consultant Cardiologist of the Institut Jantung Negara ( IJN ) added that the GLP-1 RAs could protect patients from heart diseases relating to diabetes .

He added that the innovation of GLP-1 RAs could assist in reducing the deaths from heart problems and strokes in addition to diabetes , stating that Malaysia can benefit from such medication that it , essentially killing two birds with one stone .

INSTITUT Jantung Negara ( IJN ) flawlessly executed a novel procedure for high-risk heart failure patients last September .

The procedure utilised a temporary mechanical circulatory device that supports blood flow for heart failure patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI or angioplasty with stents ), designed for high-risk and complex cardiac procedures .

IJN executed the novel procedure with the PulseCath iVAC2L , the first hospital in Malaysia to do so . The procedure was undertaken by a team of cardiologists led by Datuk Dr Azmee Mohd Ghazi , Clinical Director for Heart Failure and Heart Transplant .

Dr Azmee said the patient was discharged not long after the procedure with no noticeable side effects on health . He also expressed the excitement of the future possibilities of using the device to treat high-risk heart failure patients that cannot undergo conventional PCI treatment .

PCI is a non-surgical procedure used to treat the common coronary heart disease that occurs when the coronary blood vessels become constricted with fatty deposits or plaque , reducing the amount of blood supplied to the heart . Severe cases can lead to heart failure .

Therefore , doctors utilise a small catheter to position a balloon and stent to help expand the constricted coronary blood vessels , allowing sufficient oxygenated blood to flow and function normally as a pump . However , some patients with severe kidney and liver disease are considered too high risk for PCI .

Datuk Dr Shaiful Azmi , Head of Cardiology Department , elaborated that some patients with severe coronary heart disease have severe heart failure . Their heart muscles are too weak to withstand a conventional PCI procedure . Therefore , those patients can avoid complications by using mechanical circulatory devices to provide temporary hemodynamic support to the heart .

The success of this procedure is a milestone in IJN ’ s drive to obtain the latest advancements in proven heart therapy . As the medical field continues to refine itself , each innovation in medical research can help improve a patient ’ s health and to have a better quality of life . – The Health