Cell and gene therapy products in Malaysia: a snapshot of the industry's current regulation preparedness

Advancing Precision Medicine with Gene and Cell Therapy in Malaysia: Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications

A new era of gene and cell therapy for treating human diseases has been envisioned for several decades. However, given that the technology can alter any DNA/cell in human beings, it poses specific ethical, legal, and social difficulties in its application. In Malaysia, current bioethics and medical ethics guidelines tackle clinical trials and biomedical research, medical genetic services, and stem cell research/therapy. However, no comprehensive framework and policy is available to cater to ethical gene and cell therapy in the country. Incorporating ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) would be crucial to guide the appropriate use of human gene and cell therapy in conjunction with precision medicine. Policy experts, scientists, bioethicists, and public members must debate the associated ELSI and the professional code of conduct while preserving human rights.

Regulatory Oversight of Cell and Gene Therapy Products in Malaysia

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) is the agency responsible for the registration of pharmaceutical, natural, and health supplement products and notification of cosmetic products that are marketed in Malaysia. The implementation of regulatory oversight of the different types of product was in a progressive manner, with the latest addition to be regulated being the cell and gene therapy products (CGTPs), beginning January 1, 2021. CGTP can be classified as low risk (that does not require registration) or high risk (that needs to be registered). Generally, the regulation of high-risk CGTP is similar to other biological products. This chapter describes the chronology of the CGTP framework, classification of CGTP, how CGTPs fit into the current registration pathways and registration procedure, dossier requirements, and what is the current status and future direction of CGTP in Malaysia.