Started in the year 1980, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BPL) is one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Bangladesh. It belongs to Beximco Group, the largest private sector industrial conglomerate in the country which is majorly into textiles, jute, marine foods and real estate apart from basic chemicals and fine chemicals.

BPL commenced operations with products made under license of Bayer AG Germany; and Upjohn Inc. USA, nearly two decades back. BPL, today, manufactures and markets a range of about 80 formulations covering major therapeutic groups.

From a first year turnover of Tk. 24 million or $ 1.55 million in 1980, BPL has emerged as a business of Tk. 2.31 billion or $ 47.39 million in 1998. Over the last four years (1995 to 1998) BPL has been growing with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent. Assets of the company have increased by more than 70 per cent over the last four years.

Total assets stood at $103 Million in 1998. Net profit margin of the company remains steady within a range of 1.1 to 14 per cent. This kept ROE (return on equity) stable over the last four years (approximately 13 per cent). BPL maintains healthy and stable dividend policy. Cash dividend payment varied within 15 to 40 per cent over the last four years (1995 to 1998), according to company sources.

Every year the company has been introducing 6 to 8 new items on an average, in its product portfolio to maintain the trend. Last year the company introduced 12 new products.

BPL launched vitamin B complex tablet Aristovit-B in the year 1983. Currently, BPL holds a 16 per cent share from multinational giants such as Glaxo-Welcome, Novartis, Hoecsht, Rhone Poulenc Rorer, Fisons etc. in the domestic market with total size of around $308 million.

The company was behind introducing the novel concept of marketing branded generics in Bangladesh. The company stands out for its strong product differentiation, progressive management, and aggressive exploration of opportunities, such as penetration of international markets, introduction of newer drugs and high tech dosage forms.

BPL's basic chemicals unit, commissioned in 1990 currently meets nearly 90 per cent of the country's demand for two vital raw materials, ampicillin and amoxycillin. It also exports to overseas markets, including South Korea and Malaysia. The company received the Export Gold Trophy in 19994-95 for its exports of these two basic chemicals.

Another wing of the Chemical Division, Beximco Infusions Ltd, (BIL) has an annual production capacity of 6 million bottles of life saving I.V. fluids. Started production in the year 1993, BIL has gained 41.62 per cent market share in 1998 in IV solutions. BIL claims to be the first infusions company in Bangladesh to obtain ISO 9001 certification.

In February 1998, BIL started operation of its second production line, which was installed by the Swedish Firm Getinge. This expansion has increased BIL's capacity to 12 million bottles of I.V. fluids per year. The market for IV fluids is expanding in Bangladesh and in 1998 BIL enjoyed a growth of 15.78, as per company sources.

Pharmatek Chemicals Ltd, managed and operated by BPL under long term contract, is a leading API producer of paracetamol in Bangladesh. It caters to almost 60 per cent of the local market and supplies its products to both national and multinational companies operating in Bangladesh.

With its distribution wing of the chemical division, I & I Services Ltd., the company covers 20,000 customers nationwide every month.

Beximco recently launched five anti-HIV/AIDS by the names - Diavix (Zidovudine + Lamivudine), Avifanz (Efavirenz), Avifix (Melfinavir), Triovix (Lamivudine + Zidovudine + Nevirapine) and Avilam (Lamivudine).

In its effort to reach the global markets, BPL is currently constructing a new formulations plant according to USFDA standards.