Once-a-week diabetes drug now available in Bangladesh, but too expensive

Dhaka (March 18, 2021): Novo Nordisk on Thursday announced that once-weekly semaglutide injection for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is now available in Bangladesh.

Alongside diet and exercise, semaglutide can either be used alone or in addition to other products for diabetes management, according to the company.

“Being able to offer a medicine such as once-weekly semaglutide with its superior blood glucose control, reduction in body weight, and proven cardiovascular benefits, is a huge step forward in the management of this complex condition,” said Professor AK Azad Khan, president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.

Semaglutide is available in Bangladesh following a series of clinical trials involving over 10,000 adults with type 2 diabetes. The results consistently showed greater reductions in both blood sugar and body weight compared with commonly used treatments for type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular benefits, in people with type 2 diabetes.

The price for a once-weekly semaglutide is Tk14,259.

Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, director of medical and quality of Novo Nordisk, Kamal Hossain Palok, director of business unit GLP-1 and obesity and Gazi Towhid Ahmed, public affairs manager of Novo Nordisk were present in the programme.

Novo Nordisk, in partnership with Eskayef Pharmaceuticals, has been manufacturing insulin in Bangladesh since 2012. Transcom Distribution Company distributes the insulin across the country.