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Ever wondered why certain medicines that work for some people may not work for you? The answer lies in precision medicine – an approach to healthcare that tailors prevention strategies and treatments to the unique characteristics of each individual. A person’s genetics, along with their environmental and lifestyle factors, influence how diseases develop and how the body responds to treatment. Traditionally, treatments were often developed using a broader “one-size-fits-all” approach, which explains why a treatment may work effectively for certain individuals but not for others. Today, advances in science and data analytics are helping researchers better connect genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors, uncovering innovative therapies that can significantly improve healthcare outcomes.
Precision medicine leverages patients’ genetic information to enable more accurate diagnoses and improve understanding of how diseases develop and progress. Major breakthroughs in this field have been seen in oncology and rare diseases. Through precision medicine, cancer treatment has evolved from invasive chemotherapy towards genetically engineered immune cell therapies. This level of precision is made possible through advanced technologies such as Big Data Analytics, which offer advanced capabilities in sorting, organising and analysing vast genetic datasets. Such analyses play an important role in advancing Cell and Gene Therapy Products (CGTPs).
CGTPs represent one of the most important applications of precision medicine and represent a major advancement in medical science, particularly for diseases once considered difficult or even impossible to treat.
One notable example is Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell Therapy, which modifies a patient’s own immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells more effectively. CAR-T Cell therapy has shown promising results in treating blood cancers, contributing to strong global demand. The global CAR-T Cell Therapy market was projected to reach USD5 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1%.
In Malaysia, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) has established a regulatory framework for CGTPs based on international best practices and benchmarking against leading regulatory authorities. Although this framework has been in place since 2016, domestic industry development remains relatively nascent. Currently, only foreign-sourced CGTPs are available in the country. Apart from strict regulatory compliance, commercialisation of CGTPs within the precision medicine segment entails substantial investment in R&D and high-tech infrastructure.
Recognising the level of sophistication, the Government of Malaysia, through the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, has identified pharmaceuticals as a priority sector to support future economic growth. In line with this vision, the New Incentive Framework (NIF) was introduced to facilitate new investments in priority manufacturing sectors, including pharmaceuticals.
The NIF, which came into effect on 1 March 2026, adopts a tiered, outcome-based incentive approach aimed at reducing investment barriers while encouraging both domestic and international participation in Malaysia’s growing pharmaceutical ecosystem.
New investments in the pharmaceutical sector (excluding fill and finish activities) may qualify for incentives such as Special Tax Rate or an Investment Tax Allowance. Investments are assessed based on project quality and their economic spill over effects, in line with the National Investment Aspiration (NIA).
Investments in CGTPs and precision medicine are widely recognised as high quality investments due to their strong emphasis on R&D, innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) generation. Malaysia offers significant potential for investors seeking to expand advanced precision medicine capabilities across the Southeast Asian region.
To learn more about these opportunities and the support available, contact the industry experts at Life Sciences & Medical Technology Division, MIDA at https://www.mida.gov.my/staffdirectory/life-sciences-medical-technology-division/ .
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