Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by young talent and innovation, according to pharmaceutical professionals.

The industry is shifting from chemical-based medicines to biomedicines, offering fresh graduates unique opportunities to shape the country's future as a global contributor to the pharmaceutical sector, they said.

By fostering research, innovation, and cross-disciplinary roles, the pharmaceutical industry is creating meaningful employment for a generation eager to devote their talent, they stated.

The pharmacists also said the sector now embraces a diverse pool of talent from fields such as biotechnology, genetic engineering, biochemistry, and chemical engineering, challenging the long-held perception that pharmacy graduates dominate these roles.

For example, biochemists are finding opportunities in business development for regulated markets, while pharmacists are being trained to manage intellectual property for pharmaceutical innovations.

The shift toward advanced manufacturing and complex product formulation has further diversified career paths.

Roles such as quality assurance executives, regulatory affairs specialists, and analytical scientists have emerged to meet the demands of stringent global standards.

Several leading companies, including Square Pharmaceuticals PLC, Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Aristopharma, ACI HealthCare Ltd, Globe Biotech, Beacon Pharmaceuticals PLC, and Ziska Pharmaceuticals, are investing heavily in biologics, signalling significant growth in this area.

Biomedicine, which focuses on treatments derived from biological sources, has become a central focus for these companies.

"There are vast opportunities for young graduates in pharmacy, biotechnology, biochemistry, and related disciplines," said M Mohibuz Zaman, managing director and chief executive director of ACI HealthCare Ltd.

"They can contribute across production, quality control, research, and marketing departments in pharmaceutical companies," he said.

Zaman added that expertise in pharmacy is essential across all fields of the pharmaceutical industry, noting, "The future for quality young pharmacists is bright, both at home and abroad."

By channelling their passion into industries like pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh can build a robust economy driven by innovation and self-reliance, he stated.

According to Zaman, as young Bangladeshis rise to meet these opportunities, the country is poised to become a global pharmaceutical powerhouse, showcasing the power of youth-led progress.

"Over the last 20 years, the pharmaceutical sector has grown tenfold, significantly expanding job opportunities for fresh graduates in pharmacy, biotechnology, and related disciplines," said Md Mizanur Rahman, general manager of Incepta Pharmaceuticals.

However, two decades ago, pharmacy and related fields were not widely pursued due to limited opportunities, he noted.

Rahman explained that these disciplines have now become a top choice for students, driven by the sector's immense growth and demand for skilled professionals.

This surge in the pharmaceutical market has created diverse career paths for fresh graduates, spanning supply chain management, regulatory affairs, technical services, marketing, and training within pharmaceutical companies.

He emphasised that as the market continues to expand, so does the need for trained professionals to support the industry's dynamic growth.

The evolving landscape offers young professionals an exciting platform to thrive and contribute to one of Bangladesh's most promising sectors, he said.

"Local pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh are progressively transitioning from chemical medicines to biomedicines," said Md Abu Zafor Sadek, deputy general manager at UniMed UniHealth Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

This shift is creating opportunities for fresh graduates specialising in biotechnology and genetic engineering to make valuable contributions to the pharmaceutical sector, he said.

Sadek noted that most top public and private universities in Bangladesh now offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in biotechnology and genetic engineering.

These institutions produce approximately 700 graduates annually, creating a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of the evolving pharmaceutical industry, he said.

In addition to laboratory, research and development-related roles, Sadek emphasised that fresh graduates have promising career prospects in pharmaceutical marketing departments.

These departments require skilled individuals with expertise in biomedicine to manage and promote specialised product segments effectively.

According to the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (Bapi), there are over 160 pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.

Once dependent on imported medicines, the country has become self-sufficient, producing 98 percent of its domestic medicinal needs.

With a market worth $3.5 billion and an annual growth rate of 12 percent, the pharmaceutical industry is a shining example of innovation and resilience, according to Bapi.

Zaman of the ACI highlighted that this growth extends beyond local demands, as Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies now export high-quality generics to stringent regulatory markets, including the US, the UK, and Europe.

This transformation has redefined career opportunities for young professionals, marking a new era for the country's pharmaceutical sector, he pointed out.