Published on 06:15 PM, October 22, 2020

Nepalese company to buy 2 million shots of Globe Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine if it passes trials

Representational photo

A Nepalese company--Anmol Healthcare Ltd--will buy two million shots of BANCOVID developed by Bangladeshi company Globe Biotech Ltd if it passes trials, said the company officials.

The Nepalese company has informed of their demand through a "letter of intent" to Globe Biotech Ltd yesterday, they said. Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Banshidhar Mishra has visited Globe Biotech Ltd laboratory in Dhaka today.

"Anmol Healthcare Ltd sent the letter of intent to us via email and we have already replied them that we will supply our vaccines once it will pass the trials," Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin, manager (quality and regulatory operations) of Globe Biotech Ltd told The Daily Star.

The Nepalese ambassador also spoke to journalists following his visit and the ambassador said his country will buy BANCOVID "for sure" if the vaccine passes clinical trials.

"We anticipate that this vaccine will be cheaper [for Nepal]. Another reason is the virus strain in South Asia which causing infection are the sameā€”in Bangladesh and Nepal---so this vaccine will be more effective [for Nepal]," Dr Banshidhar Mishra said adding that his government is also exploring other sources of vaccine.

While addressing, Harunur Rashid, Chairman of Globe Biotech said that his company have received requests from different foreign governments and companies. "Orders of some 20 million doses of the vaccine are in the pipeline," Harunur Rashid said.

Read more: 3 Covid-19 vaccine candidates by Bangladesh's Globe Biotech enlisted in WHO draft landscape