Sandoz establishes its regional talent hub in Malaysia

The pharmaceutical company is redefining the future of healthcare in Malaysia to be more accessible and affordable while upholding its quality

Sandoz, the global leader in developing off-patent generics and biosimilars, has recently taken a significant step by establishing a new regional talent hub in Kuala Lumpur, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Founded by Kern & Sandoz in Switzerland in 1886, the company celebrates its dynamic and rich history during its first anniversary as a standalone company and stock-market listing this October.

The company has been at the forefront of medical advancements with historical milestones including the launch of Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the introduction of the first oral penicillin in 1951, the first recombinant interferon alfa in 1980, and the world’s first biosimilar medicine in 2006.

Today, the company stands out for delivering more than 800 million treatments to over 700 million patients every year, generating more than USD 18 billion in direct savings in the US and Europe alone, improving healthcare by freeing up resources and resulting in a total social impact of its key medicines estimated at approximately USD 400 billion per year worldwide.

The pioneering spirit of Sandoz is evident in Malaysia, where it introduced the country’s first biosimilar for cancer patients and secured the first biosimilar government tender for anaemia treatment in dialysis patients.

Carlos Patarrana, Country Head for Sandoz Malaysia-Singapore and Brunei, highlights, “For over 50 years, Sandoz has remained committed to Malaysia, consistently delivering safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare products. Our extensive portfolio of 40 brands covers 15 disease areas, ensuring that patients have access to the treatments they require.”

“At Sandoz, we are proud to have introduced the first-ever generics for many drugs in the Malaysian market which has significantly improved access to new treatments,” he continues.

From cancer to colds, Sandoz boasts a broad scientific heritage here in Malaysia, across various therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, pain, respiratory and allergy, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system (CNS). In terms of biosimilars, immunology, endocrinology and oncology are covered.

The company’s commitment to quality is reflected in its use of state-of-the-art biological production technologies and quality standards, ensuring that its biosimilars are highly similar to their reference biologics in potency, safety, and purity.

Patarrana emphasises, “The introduction of generic medications after the patent expiry of innovative medicines marks an important milestone in any therapeutic area. It enhances access to these medications, giving more healthcare professionals the opportunity to select the most appropriate treatments for their patients.”

The company’s commitment to excellence extends beyond delivering high quality biosimilars and generic medication. It also includes a strong focus on developing its people, as well as contributing to the scientific discourse to redefine the medical field.

As such, scientific education is central to the strategy of Sandoz in Malaysia. The company offers continuing medical education (CME) and hosts webinars on various medical topics, including antibiotics, biosimilarity, cardiovascular health, pain management, and gastroenterology. These initiatives underscore the dedication of Sandoz to advancing knowledge and awareness in the healthcare community.

As a burgeoning regional hub, Sandoz has a solid expansion plan in Malaysia.

“Malaysia is one of our attractive regional hubs, with over 100 local and regional roles, due to its strategic geographical location to our other markets in the Asia Pacific region,” says Jonathan Bravo, Head of People and Organisation in Sandoz Malaysia. “We view Malaysia as a highly favourable destination for establishing new positions and our goal is to attract the best talent in the local market and create opportunities for growth.”

Bravo highlights the company’s recent success in opening over 10 new positions and its focus on boosting a dynamic work environment.

“We are committed to adopting a progressive work environment for work-life balance, empowerment, and flexibility,” he explains. “We actively encourage and support women to assume leadership positions, ensuring that their valuable perspectives and contributions are fully utilised and recognised within our organisation. Additionally, we have implemented a hybrid work model so employees are able to spend more time with their loved ones and save on commute time.”

The commitment of Sandoz to redefining workplace quality is reflected in its recognition as one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia for 2022 and 2023 consecutively.

By emphasising talent growth and a dynamic work culture, Sandoz is leading the change in healthcare and redefining the standards of a modern workplace.