Equilab Participates in IASMED Annual Meeting 2026: Advancing Clinical Trials in Indonesia

On 5 September 2026, the Indonesian Association for the Study of Medicinals (IASMED) convened its annual meeting to evaluate regulatory developments and strategic priorities for clinical research in Indonesia. The event brought together senior government officials and industry representatives, including the Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) – Prof. dr. Taruna Ikrar, M.Biomed., Ph.D., Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices at the Indonesian Ministry of Health – Dr. Dra. Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Apt, M.Pharm, MARS, and the Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) – Dr. Akhmal Yusof. Alongside these leaders, representatives from the Indonesia Clinical Research Center (INA-CRC), state-owned and private hospital Clinical Research Units (CRUs), trial sponsors, and contract research organizations (CROs) participated in sessions covering local regulatory frameworks, patient perspectives, and experience from clinical trial abroad.

In his keynote address, Prof. Taruna Ikrar outlined BPOM’s operational direction, emphasizing a structural shift toward institutional enablement to support trial volume. "To strengthen the clinical trial ecosystem in Indonesia, we need a collaborative ecosystem supported by strong clinical trial sites, capable researchers, agile regulation, good governance, and collaboration among Academia, Business, and Government," stated Prof. Taruna. Expanding on national research policy, Dr. Dra. Lucia Rizka Andalucia presented a session titled "Accelerating Sustainable Growth by Unlocking Indonesia’s Clinical Trial Potential." Her address detailed Ministry of Health structural reforms, emphasizing the digitalization of Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) services and streamlined multicenter ethical reviews, which have successfully reduced clinical trial startup timelines from 9–12 months to 3–7 months.

During the final panel session, industry delegates evaluated operational perceptions against verifiable metrics across the domestic landscape. Presenting on "Best Practice in Conducting Global Clinical Trials in Collaboration with Local CRO," Mr. Ronal Simanjuntak, President Director of Equilab International, addressed ongoing misconceptions regarding trial complexity in Indonesia. He highlighted, "We must consistently highlight the continuous improvements taking place in Indonesia. Contrary to historical perceptions, site readiness and BPOM evaluation processes have advanced remarkably. This progress is demonstrated by clearer regulatory timelines and high approval rates, including Equilab’s successful approval of 25 Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) applications." He further emphasized that optimizing overall activation timelines relies on structured collaboration between sponsor, local CRO, and the strategic decision in responding to BPOM’s queries.

The showcase of clinical site readiness, regulatory breakthroughs presented at the conference highlight a maturing clinical trial ecosystem in Indonesia. As an established Indonesian CRO, Equilab International continues to support this national momentum, having contributed to developing over 135 trial sites nationwide, comprising 83 primary healthcare facilities and 54 referral hospitals. By combining local regulatory expertise with an expanded clinical network, Equilab provides international biotech and pharmaceutical sponsors with the operational capacity required to execute complex multiregional clinical trials in Indonesia.