TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY and JAGARAN CHAKMA

Bangladesh is stepping into high-end pharmaceutical manufacturing as Novo Nordisk begins producing modern insulin locally in partnership with Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a concern of Transcom Group.

The move promises to expand access for millions of people with diabetes while positioning the country as a future export hub for advanced biologic medicines.

The Danish drugmaker’s transfer of advanced manufacturing technology marks a “milestone” for Bangladesh, said Jay Thyagarajan, the company’s senior vice president for Asia Pacific, as it signals a shift from import dependence to building sophisticated biopharmaceutical capability at home.

“This is not just about manufacturing,” Thyagarajan told The Daily Star. “It is about building sustainable capability in Bangladesh and demonstrating that the country can produce biologic medicines at the highest global standards.”

LIMITED ACCESS

The urgency behind the move is stark. Bangladesh has around 15 million diabetic patients, yet only a small fraction receives insulin therapy due to high costs, inconsistent supply and limited access to treatment facilities.

Globally, more than 600 million people live with diabetes, but in countries like Bangladesh, access gaps remain acute.

“Given the scale of unmet demand, we felt the need to ensure a sustainable local supply,” Thyagarajan said.

Local manufacturing is expected to play a critical role in narrowing this gap, particularly as diabetes cases continue to rise alongside urbanisation and lifestyle changes.

WHY BANGLADESH -- AND WHY ESKAYEF

Novo Nordisk’s decision to localise production was driven by both market need and manufacturing potential. A key part of that strategy is its partnership with Eskayef, a concern of Transcom Group.

Thyagarajan said the choice was based on trust and proven capability.

“Eskayef and Transcom have demonstrated over the years that they can maintain high-quality production standards comparable to global benchmarks,” he said.

Insulin production is among the most complex processes in pharmaceuticals, requiring precision, consistency and strict regulatory compliance. Novo Nordisk was confident that its Bangladeshi partner could meet those standards.

Equally important was institutional support. Coordination among regulators, policymakers and the medical community helped enable the technology transfer.

“Technology transfer of this scale requires alignment across stakeholders. In Bangladesh, that alignment was there,” he said.

A COMPLEX LEAP INTO BIOTECHNOLOGY

Unlike conventional drugs, insulin is a biological product that demands advanced processes such as fermentation, sterile manufacturing and highly controlled environments.

“It is not a simple molecule,” Thyagarajan said. “It requires extremely high levels of control and quality.”

Novo Nordisk has transferred proprietary technology from Denmark and ensured that production in Bangladesh adheres to European Union standards. Each batch is tested to match global benchmarks.