DBL Pharma has recently signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Bangladesh Ltd. to acquire some dermatological product manufacturing and quality control equipment used in GSK's recently closed Chittagong factory.
GSK used to manufacture popular brands like Betnovate, Dermovate & Neobacrin using this facility, which was declared to be shut down late last year. The regulatory authority for Drugs has been formally notified of this deal between GSK and DBL, said a statement.
DBL Group, one of leading Bangladeshi conglomerates, in line with their astounding success in export-oriented garments and ceramics business, DBL Group is investing in pharmaceuticals. With an investment of around BDT 7.0 billion, a US FDA standard pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is underway developed by DBL at Kashimpur (Gazipur), which is expected to be fully operational by late 2020.
The project under development on around 10 acre land will produce almost all dosage forms including tablets, capsules, syrups, injections and inhalers using high spec machinery sourced from Europe. At the same time, to re-introduce alternatives of discontinued GSK dermatological products using the same technology for the patients of Bangladesh, DBL has entered into this agreement with GSK.
Earlier GSK announced its exit from the Pharmaceuticals business in Bangladesh in 2019. Consequently, widely-used brands like Betnovate, Dermovate & Neobacrin are not available in the market. As a result of this agreement between GSK & DBL, alternatives will be available for patients, using the same technology.
Besides, another venture of DBL group registered in the United States titled 'DBL Pharmaceutical Inc'., is currently marketing 2 generic drugs containing Methocarbamol through contract manufacturing. Once the Bangladesh factory in Kashimpur is ready, DBL hopes to be able to export those products directly from Bangladesh to USA and other highly regulated countries.
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