Nevian Life Science Achieves Historic Milestone with First Bangladeshi Pharmaceutical Exports to Canada
核心洞察
Nevian Life Science PLC (搜索) (formerly Novartis Bangladesh Limited (搜索)) has become the first Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company to export medicines to Canada under a contract manufacturing agreement with Sandoz AG (搜索), the world's leading generic pharmaceutical company.
The exports are manufactured at Nevian's EU-GMP certified facility in Tongi and represent Bangladesh's first entry into highly regulated North American pharmaceutical markets through multinational partnership.
The agreement opens opportunities for future expansion to multiple countries across Europe, North America, and South America under the Sandoz network, marking a significant advancement for Bangladesh's pharmaceutical export sector.
Nevian Life Science PLC (搜索) (formerly Novartis Bangladesh Limited (搜索)) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company to export medicines to Canada, marking Bangladesh's inaugural entry into highly regulated North American pharmaceutical markets. The historic achievement was celebrated at an event held on May 13, 2026, at Nevian's manufacturing plant in Tongi, with Bangladesh's Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Sardar Sakhawat Husain, joining virtually as chief guest.
Strategic Partnership with Global Leader
The export initiative operates under a contract manufacturing arrangement with Sandoz AG (搜索), the world's number one generic pharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland. In the first phase, Sandoz Canada Inc (搜索) is importing multiple pharmaceutical products manufactured at Nevian's Tongi plant against purchase orders from Sandoz AG, Switzerland.
Under the same agreement, several countries across Europe, North America, and South America under the Sandoz network are expected to be added as future export destinations, significantly expanding Bangladesh's pharmaceutical export footprint in developed markets.
Manufacturing Excellence and Quality Standards
The medicines are produced at Nevian's European Union GMP-certified factory in Tongi, ensuring compliance with international manufacturing standards. This certification has been crucial in enabling exports to highly regulated markets like Canada.
"When we embarked on our journey as Nevian, we pledged to uphold the quality standards of Novartis in Bangladesh. Today, through exporting medicines to a country like Canada on behalf of a multinational company, that commitment has been fulfilled. Nevian is now the first company in Bangladesh to engage in multi-country partnership-based contract manufacturing and exports," said Musawath Shams Zahedee, Nevian's Managing Director.
Government Recognition and Industry Impact
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain praised Nevian's achievement, stating: "The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important sectors for diversifying Bangladesh's export basket. Nevian's initiative, in partnership with Switzerland-based Sandoz, can serve as a role model for achieving rapid growth in this sector."
Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and Sampson Lam, supply planning specialist at Sandoz Canada, also delivered virtual greetings at the event, highlighting the international significance of this partnership.
Corporate Transformation and Heritage
Nevian's journey reflects a rich pharmaceutical heritage in Bangladesh. Switzerland's Ciba-Geigy (搜索), with more than 200 years of global heritage in pharmaceutical excellence, began operations in Bangladesh in 1973. Following its merger with Sandoz, the company re-emerged as Novartis in 1996.
The company operated as a joint venture with the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (搜索) (BCIC) until 2025, when majority shares were acquired by Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited (搜索), one of Bangladesh's leading pharmaceutical manufacturers. Following the acquisition, Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited was renamed Nevian Lifescience PLC.
Despite the name change, Nevian continues producing, marketing, and exporting Novartis medicines under the same brand names, formulations, and quality standards as a licensee of the Switzerland-based multinational company.
Industry Outlook and Future Prospects
Industry experts believe that strategic partnerships with multinational companies will be the most effective way to expand Bangladesh's pharmaceutical export footprint in developed markets. The company's shareholders described this achievement as a strong testament to Nevian's internationally recognized manufacturing capabilities and quality standards.
Chairman of Radiant Pharmaceuticals, Md Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, noted that the foundation of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry was established through the historic Pharmacy Ordinance enacted during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman in 1976, which paved the way for Bangladesh's self-sufficiency in medicines.
The event was attended by Gazipur-2 MP M Manjurul Karim Rony and Gazipur City Corporation Administrator Shawkat Hossain Sarkar, among other dignitaries, underscoring the national significance of this pharmaceutical export milestone.