Business Plus
After succeeding with affordable generics, Bangladesh’s drugmakers are pursuing complex medicines to expand exports and improve patient access
18 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Jagaran Chakma
The year was 2013. The breakthrough Hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir entered the US market at about $1,000 per tablet, placing treatment beyond the reach of many patients.Bangladesh, however, took advantage of the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS waiver for least-developed countries, allowing local manufacturers to produce generic versions of the patented medicine. The move sharply reduced prices and expanded access to treatment.More than a decade later, pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh say they are trying to replicate that model with a new generation of high-value medicines, including biologics, immunotherapies and treatments for rare diseases.One recent example is cystic fibrosis treatment. Beximco Pharmaceuticals has reverse-engineered Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Trikafta, marketed as Kaftrio in some countries, and launched a generic version in Bangladesh under the brand name Triko.According to the company, the medicine costs about 96 percent less than the innovator product, making treatment significantly more affordable.Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry now meets about 98 percent of domestic demand and exports medicines to around 166 countries, generating more than $200 million annually.For decades, this industry built its reputation on affordable generics. But as the industry matures, local manufacturers are investing in biologics, immunotherapies and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production while increasingly targeting complex medicines that require advanced research, sophisticated manufacturing and stringent regulatory standards.Companies say the shift will help expand access to advanced therapies and strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness in global pharmaceutical markets.
