Beximco Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading drug makers of the country, announced today it will invest with Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Bangladesh receives Covid-19 vaccine on a priority basis, once approved by the regulator.

In a press statement, Beximco Pharmaceuticals said it will make a financial contribution to advance the development of the vaccine, which will be adjusted based on the vaccine price under the terms of the planned arrangement.

The number of doses to be provided to Bangladesh on a priority basis and Beximco Pharmaceuticals investment amount will depend on regulatory approvals, SII's production capacity and earlier commitments to other countries, it said. The SII, the world's largest vaccine producer, has partnered with AstraZeneca of UK, the Gates Foundation and Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) to produce more than a billion doses of vaccine for global supply.

"Beximco will be the exclusive supplier of the vaccine in Bangladesh and will facilitate the needs of the government of Bangladesh by offering the opportunity for it to reserve the desired quantities for priority supply at prices to be agreed between the government and SII," the statement said. Beximco will secure additional quantities of the vaccine to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh, it said.

Mr Adar C Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India and Shayan F Rahman, Principal of Beximco Pharmaceuticals jointly commented:

“We are excited to bring together two of the leading pharma companies in India and Bangladesh with the scale and capabilities to bring a hugely promising treatment to the people who need it the most. Between us, we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Prof Sayedur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Pharmacological Society, said the best option for Bangladesh is to go for a joint venture with the vaccine developer and produce it in the country.

"In that case, Bangladeshi drug manufacturing companies will develop their capacity and the prices of the vaccines will be more competitive," he told The Daily Star.

Source:

https://beximcopharma.com/media-gallery/beximco-news/latest-news/item/657-beximco-pharma-and-serum-institute-of-india-announce-intention-to%20cooperate-on-a-covid-19-vaccine.html

https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/covid-19-vaccine-beximco-pharmaceuticals-indias-serum-institute-sign-agreement-1952477