Beximco Pharmaceuticals PLC on Monday formally handed over its low-cost cystic fibrosis (CF) medicines to patients and representatives from six countries, marking the launch of what it says is the world’s first affordable generic version of a breakthrough treatment that has transformed care for the life-threatening genetic disorder.
At a ceremony held at the company’s manufacturing facility in Dhaka, selected patients and representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Qatar, South Africa and Bangladesh received supplies of TRIKO, Beximco Pharma’s generic version of the triple combination therapy elexacaftor, tezacaftor and ivacaftor (ETI), marketed internationally as Trikafta by US Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
The company said commercial exports are scheduled to begin by the end of 2026.
During the initial phase, supplies will be managed on a named-patient basis through the CF Buyers’ Club, with access to be expanded gradually as manufacturing capacity increases.
TRIKO has been priced at $12,750 per year for adults and $6,375 for children, representing a 96 per cent reduction compared with the US list price of the originator product, which can reach $3,70,000 annually.
Beximco Pharma has also launched BEXDECO, a generic version of ivacaftor, one of the three active components of ETI, at $5 per tablet for patients who require the medicine as a standalone therapy.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to the build-up of thick mucus in the lungs and digestive system. The disease can be fatal without diagnosis and treatment.
An estimated 160,000 people worldwide are living with cystic fibrosis, while tens of thousands of cases are believed to remain undiagnosed. More than four-fifths of undiagnosed patients are thought to be in low- and middle-income countries.
Treatment of the disease has changed significantly with the introduction of CFTR modulators, which target the underlying cause of the condition rather than its symptoms.
The ETI combination therapy, first approved in 2019, is suitable for about 90 per cent of patients and is included in the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List.
However, the high cost of treatment has kept the medicine out of reach for many patients. According to patient advocates, roughly one-third of patients who could benefit from ETI currently lack access to the therapy.
Beximco Pharma Chief Operating Officer Rabbur Reza said the company had sought to address unmet medical needs in treatment areas where access remains severely limited.
“We believe that access to this life-saving treatment will have a truly transformative impact on the thousands of patients living with cystic fibrosis who are currently deprived of treatment due to the significant cost burden,” he said.
Gayle Pledger, campaign lead of UK-based patient advocacy group Right to Breathe and a parent of a child living with cystic fibrosis, said breakthrough medicines remain beyond the reach of many patients because of their cost.
“Access to life-saving treatment is a fundamental human right,” she said, adding that Beximco Pharma had responded to requests from patients and advocacy groups around the world.
Among those attending the event was six-year-old Bangladeshi patient Adilur Rahman. His father, Mustafizur Rahman, said he hoped the treatment would allow his son to return to school, enjoy his childhood and live like other children.
Speakers at the event also noted a growing number of cystic fibrosis cases in South Asia, citing studies indicating that the disease may be more prevalent in the region than previously recognised.
Beximco Pharma, founded in 1976, is one of Bangladesh’s leading generic pharmaceutical manufacturers and exporters, already reaching over 50 markets, employing over 6,000 people.
The company’s manufacturing facilities are approved by regulatory authorities in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, the Gulf region and Latin America.
It also provides contract manufacturing services to multinational and global generic drugmakers.
