BPOM partners with 187 universities to boost ATMP ecosystem

The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has partnered with 187 top Indonesian universities to strengthen the ecosystem for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) through research, innovation, and commercialization.

During a joint commitment signing in Jakarta, BPOM head Taruna Ikrar noted that while Indonesia has authorized one type of ATMP, it is currently still imported. This stands in contrast to the US Food and Drug Administration, which has approved 48 products, and Japan, which has authorized approximately 26.

The initiative involves collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the Indonesian Stem Cell Association (ASPI). The goal is to drive research toward concrete commercial outputs, such as innovative treatments currently being tested for osteoarthritis.

With the global ATMP market projected to grow significantly from its 2025 valuation of US$50 billion, the Indonesian government aims to support researchers by providing guidance on preclinical trials and funding healthcare research projects to ensure scientific evidence leads to commercially viable medical products.