Globe Pharmaceutical Group of Companies Ltd Chairman Md. Harunur Rashid on Sunday claimed that his company has spent around Tk 500 crore to innovate Bangladesh's first Covid-19 vaccine 'Bangavax'. But he could not market the vaccine due to the disinterest of the-then government.
"Our company has spent around Tk 500 crore to innovate Covid-19 vaccine 'Bangavax'. But we could not market the vaccine due to the disinterest of the-then government. Without giving permission to administer the vaccine, the-then government asked us to complete human trial. I think, they were much interested to import vaccine than using the locally developed one," he said while addressing a press conference in the Globe Pharma office at Tejgaon, Dhaka.
The press conference was convened to brief media about the pharmaceutical company's achievement of US Patent registration of the Bangladeshi developed Covid-19 vaccine 'Bangavax'.
In the press conference, co-innovator of the Bangavax Dr. Kakon Nag elaborated the registration activities of the vaccine.
Among others, Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Association's General Secretary Dr. Jakir Hossain, Treasurer Md. Halimuzzaman, Executive Member Abdur Razzaq, and Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Dhaka Prof Dr. Sitesh Chandra Bachar.
Dr. Kakon Nag elaborated the registration activities of the vaccine claiming that this is the first Bangladeshi vaccine in the drug sector to secure a US patent as global recognition. This success reflects the nation's growing capacity in advanced scientific research and innovation.
Globe Biotech, a sister concern of Globe Pharmaceuticals Group, began its journey in 2015 by establishing cutting-edge laboratories to develop biologics, biosimilars, and novel drugs for cancer, arthritis, anemia, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, under the leadership of Dr. Kakon Nag and Dr. Nazneen Sultana, the company's scientists developed diagnostic kits, medicines, and vaccines, including the mRNA-based Bangavax. The vaccine was approved for clinical trials by the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).
In 2020, its complete coding sequence was published in the US NCBI database, while research papers were featured in Elsevier's Vaccine and Nature's Scientific Reports. The World Health Organization (WHO) also included Bangavax in its global vaccine list. Pre-clinical trials on monkeys demonstrated the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, a first in Bangladesh.
Now recognized with a US patent covering 30 innovations, Bangavax is described as the world's only single-dose mRNA vaccine effective against multiple Covid-19 variants. Beyond Covid-19, the technology opens the door for developing treatments for cancer, diabetes, and other critical diseases using proprietary nanotechnology.
Experts believe the patent will allow Bangladesh to locally produce cost-effective, high-quality vaccines, meet domestic demand, and export globally, boosting foreign exchange earnings. This milestone is also expected to strengthen Bangladesh's position in facing LDC graduation challenges by 2026 and contribute significantly to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
