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Globe Biotech Limited has secured a United States Patent for its indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine Bangavax, first of its kind in Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry.
Globe Biotech, a subsidiary of Globe Pharma Group of Companies, made the announcement at a press conference titled "First US Patent in Bangladesh: A New Milestone in the Pharmaceutical Industry" at its Tejgaon office in the capital on Sunday.While giving a presentation, Dr. Kakon Nag, a scientist at Globe Biotech, said Bangavax is the only single-dose mRNA vaccine developed in Bangladesh that secured the US patent on August 26.
He pointed out that founded in 2015 the Globe Biotech expanded into COVID-19 research in 2020, developing diagnostic kits, vaccines, and therapeutics under him and Dr. Naznin Sultana's leadership.
The patented platform, according to Dr. Nag, can be adapted for DNA, protein-based, inactivated, and recombinant vaccines, as well as treatments for cancer, diabetes, autoimmune, and blood disorders.
He, however, sought strong support from the government and industry leaders to harness this innovation for Bangladesh in future.
Among others, Md. Harunur Rashid, Chairman, Globe Pharmaceuticals Group of Companies Limited, and Dr Muhammad Zakir Hossain, managing director of Delta Pharma Limited and also secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries ( BAPI), were present at the meeting.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Harunur Rashid said: "This achievement is a milestone for our country. Bangladesh has achieved what even India has not yet received-a US patent for an mRNA vaccine."
He dedicated this remarkable accomplishment to the people of Bangladesh, calling it 'a gift of science and innovation from our nation to the world.'
So far, his company has invested Tk 5.0 billion in research and development purposes, but has yet to see any return, he added.
Mr. Zakir Hossain praised the Globe Biotech for securing the first US patent for its Bangavax, which is a proof of the nation's scientific capability.
"This achievement makes us proud and gives us courage," he said.
During the global COVID-19 outbreak, Globe Biotech scientists under the supervision of Dr. Kakon Nag and Dr. Naznin Sultana initiated research to develop detection kits, vaccines, and therapeutics.
Such efforts emerged as Bangavax-the world's first single-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine proven effective against multiple variants.
The company said the vaccine's complete coding sequence was first published in the US-based NCBI database in 2020.
A landmark research paper on Bangavax appeared in Vaccine, a leading Elsevier medical journal, while its core technology was published in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal.
The same year, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially listed the vaccine candidate, and it went on to make history as the first vaccine trial on monkeys in Bangladesh-where it was proven safe and effective.
For its novelty, the mRNA vaccine has now been granted US Patent protection covering 30 invention claims, the company said, adding that this milestone not only highlights Bangladesh's scientific advancement but also places the nation on the global innovation map.
About the subject of the patent, the company said this is an originally developed (novel/original) technology-based mRNA vaccine, according to the scientists.
Its development involved the use of a proprietary, novel/original nanotechnology-based platform, it mentioned.
It is the world's only single-dose COVID-19 vaccine proven effective against multiple variants.
Using this technology, vaccines can also be developed with other platforms such as DNA, Subunit/Protein, Attenuated/Inactivated Virus, and Engineered/Recombinant Virus.
Furthermore, this technology can be applied to produce advanced medicines for hard-to-treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, blood disorders, and more, according to the scientists.
Since vaccines play an essential role in Bangladesh's public health, it is possible to produce and distribute safe, effective, and affordable vaccines domestically with the most advanced methods through using this patented core technology, according to the scientists.
By producing vaccines using this technology, Bangladesh can not only meet its own national demand but also export abroad, earning both international recognition and significant foreign currency.
This vaccine patent will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges of Bangladesh's graduation from LDC status in 2026.
The discovery demonstrates Bangladesh's capacity to develop and apply indigenous technology in industrial research.
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