Top 10 Largest Pharmaceutical Companies in Bangladesh

One of the key drivers of Bangladesh’s economy is its pharmaceutical industry.

💡 In fact, The Export Promotion Bureau reveals that medicine exports from Bangladesh hit an impressive $31.64 million in July and August this year. [Source]

The top pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh intend to create a world with accessible, affordable, and high-quality medicines.

Below, we listed the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh, operating and expanding their services globally.

Top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh

Also read: Top 10 Multinational Companies in Bangladesh

1. Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (SPL) was established in 1958, gained local market leadership in the mid-1980s, and became the first pharmaceutical company from Bangladesh to export finished medicine abroad in 1995.

The parent company Square Group was founded by the Late Mr. Samson H. Chowdhury, partnered by Ratna Patra, Tapan Chowdhury, and Kazi Harunar Rashid.

Square Pharma is one of Bangladesh’s leading pharmaceutical companies with a share of over 18% (as per their Annual Report 2022).

Mr. Samuel S Chowdhury is in the current leadership of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

SPL Highlights:

2. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Part of the Beximco Group, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited (BPL) produces and exports medicines globally.

Founded in 1976 by Salman F. Rahman and ASF Rahman, the company began importing products from Bayer, Germany, and Upjohn, USA, and selling them to the local market.

Beximco Pharma began product manufacturing in the 1980s and launched its medicines in 1983.

In October 2021, Beximco acquired a 54.6% stake in Sanofi Bangladesh Limited, eventually rebranding it as Synovia Pharma PLC.

This global pharmaceutical company has proudly held the National Export (Gold) trophy five times, along with the highly coveted SCRIP Award as the “Best Pharma Company in an Emerging Market.”

BPL Highlights:

Also read: Top 10 Private Banks in Bangladesh

3. Incepta Pharmaceuticals Limited

Established in 1999, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (IPL) focuses on innovation that creates value through high technology dosage tablets like sustained release, quick mouth dissolving, effervescent, barrier, and coated delayed-release tablets.

Led by Mr. Abdul Muktadir, Chairman and Managing Director of IPL, the pharmaceutical giant boasts its extensive distribution network, consisting of 28 depots across the country.

Besides achieving multiple Export trophies, Incepta also won the President’s Award (1st Place, Large Industry) for Industrial Development in 2020.

IPL Highlights:

4. ACI Pharmaceuticals

Formerly known as Imperial Chemical Industries Bangladesh Manufacturers Ltd. after the 1971 Liberation War, Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) Ltd. started operations with its current name in 1992.

Chaired by Mr. M. Anis Ud Dowla, Chairman of ACI Group, the company pioneered Quality Management System (QMS) in the country by being the first local company to achieve ISO 9001 certification in 1995.

Also, ACI has been a Founding Member of the Community of Global Growth of Companies since 2007, a World Economic Forum initiative. It is considered the most prestigious business networking organization in the world.

ACI Highlights:

5. ACME Laboratories

Founded in 1954 by the Late Mr. Hamidur Rahman Sinha, ACME Laboratories Ltd. is a part of ACME Group and one of the top pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.

ACME began its international operations in 1995 by initially exporting medicines to Bhutan.

In fiscal 2021 – 2022, ACME Laboratories introduced 29 new products to the local market. The company also achieved the WHO Prequalification of Zinc Dispersible Tablets in 2022.

ACME Lab Highlights:

6. Renata limited

Renata Limited, formerly Pfizer (Bangladesh) Limited, is one of the country’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical and animal health products manufacturing companies.

The company started its operations in Bangladesh as Pfizer in 1972 but then transferred the ownership of its shares to local shareholders in 1993. It was renamed to Renata Limited following that.

Late Syed Humayun Kabir led Renata Ltd. for 21 years before passing away in 2015.

Currently, Dr. Sarwar Ali leads the company and its subsidiaries as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Renata Highlights:

7. Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited

Initially established as a subsidiary unit of multinational pharmaceutical company SmithKline & French (SK&F), USA, Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited began operating under local leadership when Transcom Group acquired it in 1990.

Late Mr. Latifur Rahman, Founder Chairman of Transcom Group, led the acquisition and its journey as the top medicine company in Bangladesh.

Simeen Rahman is the Managing Director and CEO of the company now.

Eskayef Pharmaceuticals manufactures and markets various therapeutic drugs, bulk pellets, and animal health and nutrition products.

Since its establishment, Eskayef has continually proven its focus on quality-driven and scientific information-based healthcare products for its customers worldwide.

Eskayef is the first pharmaceutical company to successfully produce Remdesivir (the drug used to treat coronavirus) in Bangladesh.

Eskayef Highlights:

8. Opsonin Pharma Limited

Opsonin Pharma Limited (OPL), established in 1956 as a partnership business with Opsonin Chemical Industries Ltd., became a private limited company in 1976, under the leadership of its Founder Chairman, the Late Abdul Khaleque Khan.

Recognized as one of the pioneer and top pharmaceutical companies in the country, Opsonin Pharma extends its services to various sectors like medical colleges, hospitals, emergency fire services, emergency ambulance services, and police stations.

Capt. (Retd.) Abdus Sabur Khan presently leads OPL as the Chairman of the Opsonin Group, which consists of five business units. The company went global in 1985.

OPL Highlights:

9. Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited

Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited (HPL) initiated operations in 1988 as Healthcare Distribution Limited. Associated with the renowned Swiss multinational company Roche Limited, it imported and disseminated Roche products until 2001.

In the late 1990s, HPL established its pharmaceutical plant to produce the generic products it imported from Roche, Switzerland.

Now, this fast-growing pharma player is making various tablets, capsules, liquids, dry syrups, ointments, gels, Small Volume Parenteral, and eye drops, covering almost all therapeutic classes.

Ms. Suraya Bilkis is spearheading HPL and its sister concerns as Chairman of the Board.

Its sister concerns include 1) Healthcare Diagnostic Solutions Ltd., 2) Shelaidah Dairy, 3) Healthcare Distribution Company, 4) Healthcare Diagnostic Center Ltd., 5) Healthcare Chemicals Ltd., 6) Healthcare Life Science Ltd., and 7) Healthcare Formulations Ltd.

HPL Highlights:

10. Aristropharma Limited

One of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh, Aristropharma was founded in 1986 with the intent of providing quality medicines at affordable prices.

Aristopharma manufactures multiple medicines types like antiulcerants, antibiotics, NSAIDs, antipyretics, vitamins & minerals, laxatives, cardiovasculars, antidiabetics, steroids, antispasmodics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, antiemetics, antiseptics, etc.

Led by Mr. M. A. Hassan, the Chairman and Managing Director, Aristopharma started manufacturing sterile ophthalmic products in 2002.

Aristopharma Highlights:

Last Words

The pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh commits to the betterment of healthcare progress, locally and globally. The top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh discussed above contribute to the success of the local health industry and play a pivotal role in our nation’s global recognition and gross domestic product (GDP) growth.