Dexa Group hosted a visit and knowledge-sharing session with an expert staff and supporting staff from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kemenkomarves) at Dexa Laboratories of Biomolecular Sciences (DLBS) on Friday, May 20, 2022.
A total of 12 representatives from Kemenkomarves were welcomed by Dexa Group'sGroup's Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Sonny Himawan; Research, Invention & Innovation Group Manager, Mr. Laurentius Haryanto; and Compliance Manager of Ferron Par Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Johannes Bong.
During the visit, Mr. Sonny Himawan briefly presented Dexa Group's corporate profile and its role in Indonesia's healthcare sector. "In line with the vision of our founder, the late Mr. Rudy Soetikno, a soldier and pharmacist, Dexa Group plays a key role in supporting the government's efforts to achieve self-reliance in pharmaceutical raw materials. We pursue this through research and development of OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals products at the DLBS research center," said Mr. Sonny.
Dexa Group expressed hope that the expert staff and supporting staff from Kemenkomarves would help advocate for OMAI as an innovative Indonesian product developed by scientists at Dexa's research facility, with quality on par with imported medicines.
"As a research institution, DLBS scientists are dedicated to developing innovative products derived from Indonesia's rich biodiversity. Beyond fostering pharmaceutical raw material self-reliance, OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals contributes to the national economy while improving the livelihoods of farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," Mr. Sonny stated during the discussion.
Mr. Laurentius Haryanto, DLBS Research, Invention & Innovation Group Manager, elaborated on the differences between herbal medicines, Standardized Herbal Medicines (Obat Herbal Terstandar (OHT)), and phytopharmaceuticals. "Phytopharmaceuticals is the highest category, as its safety and efficacy are proven through preclinical and clinical trials, and both the raw materials and final products are standardized," he explained.
The discussion was highly interactive, with Kemenkomarves staff showing keen interest in OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals. Seviria M. Pandjaitan, a Senior Planner from Kemenkomarves, highlighted the challenges faced by the national pharmaceutical industry, particularly the public stigma surrounding herbal medicines and their efficacy. She emphasized the need for collaboration among the government, industry players, and the public to enhance education on OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals.
"We are grateful to Dexa Group for this enlightening discussion, which gave us a deeper understanding of clinically tested and standardized OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals. Combating the stigma around Phytopharmaceuticals requires joint efforts through education and awareness initiatives from all stakeholders," she said.
The session also featured an introduction to OMAI Phytopharmaceuticals products developed by DLBS, including Inlacin, a diabetes Phytopharmaceuticals made from Lagerstroemia and cinnamon, exported to Cambodia and the Philippines; Redacid, made from cinnamon for addressing gastric issues; Inbumin, derived from snakehead fish for wound healing; and Disolf, made from earthworms to improve blood circulation.
Other showcased products from DLBS include the Herba Family range, such as HerbaKOF for cough relief, HerbaCOLD for flu, HerbaPAIN for headaches and muscle pain, and HerbaVOMITZ for stomach ailments.