Bangladesh’s local pharmaceutical industry is entering a new chapter as companies shift from making basic generics to producing complex biologic medicines and vaccines. The move began slowly but picked up pace as universities trained scientists and local firms built the skills to work with living cells and modern production methods. The University of Dhaka’s pharmacy department has long sent graduates into factories, labs and regulatory offices and many alumni now lead teams that design, test and make medicines. Today local factories make insulin for people with diabetes and erythropoietin for anaemia while also producing monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancer and some autoimmune diseases. Local makers now produce vaccines for rabies, typhoid, influenza, hepatitis B, cholera and cervical cancer which used to be costly imports in many places. Producing these items at home has made them more affordable and easier to obtain for patients and health services across the country. Some companies are fully vertically integrated which means they can take a drug from cell line and fermentation through purification and final packaging at the same site. That deep level of work follows global standards and helps build trust in medicines made locally. Many firms work with international partners and top research centres to learn new techniques and speed up safe launches of new products. During the Covid crisis local industry showed it could respond quickly by developing and making vaccines and other essential supplies for the nation. Beyond finished drugs Bangladesh has also advanced in making active pharmaceutical ingredients running clinical trials and meeting strict rules for safety and quality. Those gains let more products win approval to sell abroad and help the country earn export income while serving local patients. The impact on families is clear because treatments that cost tens of thousands in some countries are now within reach for many people here. For households with long term illness the difference in price can change treatment from a burden to a steady path to care. Leaders say the right policies steady investment and a strong flow of trained people from universities will keep the progress moving. Small and medium companies can grow when big firms share tools testing labs and training and when public rules support clear standards for testing and export. This chapter also brings a chance to make production kinder to the environment by improving waste handling energy use and testing of materials. As students teachers and factory managers work together Bangladesh is becoming more self reliant in health and a competitive maker of modern medicines. That will bring steady jobs cheaper treatment and stronger local science and it gives young people clear paths to build careers at home while serving national health needs today.
