One of the challenges that arises from the disparity across the ASEAN countries is that a number of countries work on the same disease and for the same product (i.e., drugs, vaccines, etc.), which results in duplication and wastes time and resources. This shows that although collaborating ventures may have limitations imposed by funding/sponsoring partners, the ASEAN member states need to explore and expand collaborative engagements to other ASEAN member states with the end goal of enhancing capacity in the region and minimizing duplication of efforts.
Asia, including the ASEAN, is a major player in the future of pharmaceuticals. The recent slowdown in major Western countries has led to the outsourcing of developmental work in developing countries including the ASEAN (see Figure 3). The growing presence of clinical research organizations in the region is a testimony to the presence of capable human resources and growing importance of the region in the future of the pharmaceutical industry