Eskayef begins local production of Novo Nordisk's modern insulin cartridges

For millions of people living with diabetes in Bangladesh, insulin could soon become more affordable and easier to access, as Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd has begun producing modern insulin cartridges known as Penfill in partnership with Danish company Novo Nordisk.

To that end, Eskayef has entered a technology transfer arrangement with Novo Nordisk, which supplies roughly 40 percent of Bangladesh's insulin demand, marking a shift from reliance on imports.

“Today’s event is a step forward… It is a new start for our country,” Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said at the launching event of the initiative at a city hotel today.

Riad Mamun Prodhani, managing director of Novo Nordisk Bangladesh, said the products manufactured under the initiative will be 18 percent cheaper than the ones Bangladesh currently imports from the company.

The world's largest producer of insulin, Novo Nordisk has been supplying Bangladesh with NovoMix and NovoRapid for more than two decades through shipments from its global manufacturing sites.

Penfill cartridges are small pre-filled insulin containers used in injection pens, allowing patients to take more precise and convenient doses compared to traditional vial-and-syringe methods.

Under the new arrangement, these products will be produced locally by Eskayef using Novo Nordisk's technology and manufacturing processes, aligned with international standards. Each batch will also be verified in Denmark to ensure compliance with the company's global quality requirements.

Simeen Rahman, group CEO of Transcom Limited, which owns Eskayef, described the initiative as marking “a proud milestone”.

“This achievement is the result of years of commitment, precision and collaboration, " she said, adding that Eskayef has invested over $30 million (around Tk 370 crore) in this project.

Simeen said local production of modern insulin cartridges ensures a reliable and uninterrupted supply of lifesaving global insulin for people living with diabetes in the country. Bangladesh currently has around 1.5 crore diabetic people, according to government data.

More importantly, it demonstrates Bangladesh's readiness to embrace advanced technology transfer and reinforces our position as the critical hub for high value biopharmaceutical manufacturing, she added. “This is a celebration of our capability, a partnership and a future.”

Maj Gen Shameem Haidar, director general of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, said this collaboration reinforces a fundamental commitment that essential medicines must meet clear requirements for quality, safety, and efficacy, especially for complex biologic products such as insulin.

Christian Brix Møller, ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, said, Denmark and Bangladesh share a strong commitment to improving health and building skills and capabilities.

Novo Nordisk’s technology transfer and local production partnership with Eskayef is a practical example of how Danish innovation can support access to quality diabetes treatment, while strengthening local bio-manufacturing capacity, he said.