Nevian Lifescience PLC has officially begun manufacturing and marketing Novartis-branded medicines in Bangladesh following the transfer of majority shares from Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited, marking a new chapter for the global pharmaceutical company鈥檚 operations in the country.
The first locally manufactured Novartis brand under Nevian 鈥� Galvus Met 鈥� was unveiled in Dhaka, according to a press release issued on Monday.
Under a licensing agreement, Nevian will continue to produce and market Novartis鈥� globally recognised medicines in Bangladesh, adhering strictly to the Swiss company鈥檚 manufacturing and quality assurance standards.
The launch event brought together key dignitaries, including Bilal Belyurt, commercial counselor of the Republic of Turkey; Leonardo de Oliveira Januzzi, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Brazil; senior government officials; and representatives from the pharmaceutical and financial sectors.
Nevian managing director Musawat Shams Zahedi said that the same ingredients, manufacturing processes, and skilled workforce used by Novartis will be maintained, guaranteeing consistent product quality.
Nasser Shahriar Zahedi, founding director of Nevian and chairman of Radiant Pharma, said 鈥極ur vision is to preserve and continue that legacy for doctors and patients in Bangladesh.鈥�
BCIC chairman Md Fazlur Rahman hailed the development as a step toward self-reliance in Bangladesh鈥檚 pharmaceutical industry, while Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan, former head of the Directorate General of Drug Administration and Professor at the University of Dhaka, said the move demonstrates the growing technical and production capabilities of the country鈥檚 pharmaceutical sector.
Novartis鈥� roots in Bangladesh trace back to 1973 when Ciba-Geigy Bangladesh Ltd was founded as a joint venture with the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
Following the 1996 global merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, it became Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited. When Novartis AG decided to divest its local operations, Radiant Pharma acquired the majority stake, while BCIC retained its shareholding.
Nevian鈥檚 EU-GMP鈥揷ertified facility in Tongi already manufactures for Sandoz and exports to European markets.
