The first modern insulin cartridge in the country SKF started production
Photo Collected
Bangladesh’s leading pharmaceutical company SKF has started production of modern insulin cartridges for the first time in the country. They have started production through an agreement with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. As a result, modern insulin cartridges will now be available easily and relatively cheaply for diabetic patients.
This information was informed at a function organized at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Tuesday. The event was organized under the title ‘Sabas Bangladesh: Increasing availability of modern insulin through technology transfer from Denmark’. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain was present as the chief guest. This initiative is being considered as an important milestone in facilitating access to high-quality diabetes treatment and increasing biologic drug production capacity.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has been producing human insulin in Bangladesh since 2012. Even human insulin produced in Bangladesh is exported. However, modern insulin including Novo Nordisk’s ‘Novomix and Novorapid’ was imported from Denmark to Bangladesh for so long. Through technology transfer with SKF, modern insulin cartridges will now be manufactured locally using the same technology as Novo Nordisk, a first in Bangladesh. As a result, modern insulin can be easily and relatively cheaply available for diabetic patients. Modern insulin is more advanced than human insulin. It works more effectively in the body. Each batch manufactured in Bangladesh will be quality checked in Denmark to maintain Novo Nordisk’s global standards.
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain thanked Novo Nordisk and SKF for this initiative. He said, ‘Modern insulin production in the country is undoubtedly an important step. This will open up new horizons in insulin production. But quality of medicine means no compromise. It is a new beginning for the country. Bangladesh has made progress in combating diabetes. Yet a large section of the population is affected by diabetes. Therefore, the production of insulin at a relatively low price in the country is a very commendable initiative. There will be a request to the manufacturers that the price of medicine should be kept within the affordability of the people.
বিজ্ঞাপন
President of Bangladesh Diabetic Association Professor AK Azad Khan mentioned this journey of successfully manufacturing modern insulin cartridges in the country as an important milestone. He said, it is not the end; Rather the beginning of a journey. A new path started with the production of modern insulin in Bangladesh. As a result of this technology, Bangladesh will achieve greater success in biopharmaceutical production in the future. He thanked Novo Nordisk and SKF for this initiative.
Joy Thyagarajan, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Novo Nordisk, said, “This is not just a project, but a reflection of our long-term commitment and responsibility towards the millions of diabetics in Bangladesh. We are now not only at the stage of technology transfer, we have reached a milestone, which will take Bangladesh to greater heights in the future. As part of technology transfer, all the workers have been trained as per international standards in modern insulin production. In this, Bangladesh has now become a potential center of biotechnology.
SKF Pharmaceuticals is a company of Transcom Group. Transcom Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simin Rahman said, ‘Today is not just SKF; Instead of pride for the whole country. Since the production of human insulin, we have proven the capability step by step. Novo Nordisk’s state-of-the-art insulin is now manufactured in the country through technology transfer from Denmark. Each insulin is manufactured strictly following international standards. Also being regularly checked by experts. Every insulin manufactured by SKF is safe, effective and of the highest quality.’
This initiative will strengthen Bangladesh’s health system, Christian Brix Müller, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, said. He said, this initiative will make life saving treatment easily available. Strengthening Bangladesh’s health system will build local capacity.
Director General of the Department of Medicine Administration Major General Md. Shamim Haider said, this achievement is an important step forward for the health sector of the country. This proves that the transfer of advanced technology and high quality manufacturing to Bangladesh is possible. This achievement reinforces the commitment to meet the highest standards of quality, safety and efficacy of drugs manufactured in the country.
Farooq Pathan, director of Bardem Academy, said, ‘We are entering a new technology of biological drug production. This production is very difficult. The quality of production has to be maintained step by step. Through the use of this technology, the patients of our country will get modern insulin at low cost.
Mohammad Riad Mamun, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk Bangladesh delivered the welcome address on the occasion. In addition, Novo Nordisk Director (GCM) Thomas Diag, SKF Pharmaceuticals Executive Director Ikhtiar Hossain, Professor Dr. Farid Uddin and national football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan addressed the event.
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain informed about the establishment of a large vaccine production plant in the country very soon. He said, “We are going to set up a large vaccine production plant in the country, which will produce vaccines for measles and other diseases. It will start very soon. But more efforts are needed to tackle infectious diseases like HIV AIDS and TB. We want the government as well as drug manufacturers to come forward.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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