In Bangladesh, the sale of Sargel, a popular gastric medicine, is on track to reach an impressive milestone of 1000 crore rupees this year. According to IMS Health, a leading information technology company, over 900 crore rupees worth of Sargel has been sold in the first nine months of 2024, and it is expected to cross the 1000 crore mark by the end of the year. This makes Sargel one of the top-selling drugs in the country.
Halimuzzaman, CEO of Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd., shared his excitement about the success of Sargel, though he noted that sales growth this year has been slightly lower than last year. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that sales will continue to rise.
Along with Sargel, other gastric medicines are also performing strongly in the market. Maxpro and Pantonics, both generic gastric drugs, are also among the highest-selling, with sales reaching 486 crore and 376 crore rupees, respectively. Halimuzzaman emphasized that products in the gastric category dominate the market, with Sargel being a long-time leader thanks to its trust among both doctors and patients.
In fact, five of the top 10 best-selling drugs in the country are for gastric issues. In the last nine months alone, Sargel has generated 918 crore rupees in sales, capturing 2.67% of the overall drug market. Meanwhile, Maxpro holds 1.41% of the market share, and Pantonics has 1.10%.
Many adults in Bangladesh regularly take gastric medicines, partly due to the country’s dietary habits, where eating and drinking in moderation is less common, leading to a higher prevalence of gastric problems. According to Zubair Alam, Company Secretary of Renata Plc, this is a major factor in the continued demand for gastric drugs. He also noted that the demand for rosuvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, is increasing, as it can help prevent heart attacks—an issue that also affects many in developed countries.
Other medications such as Napa, Safe-Three, Monas, Exium, Seclo, and Bijoran are also seeing strong sales, each surpassing 200 crore rupees in annual sales. In total, 31 generic drugs in Bangladesh now sell for over 100 crore rupees a year, and 79 drugs exceed 50 crore rupees in sales.
Zubair Alam added that their company is proud to provide top-quality medications for a range of conditions, including ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hyperacidity, with Maxpro being a standout product. He assured customers that all Maxpro formulations are manufactured in USFDA, UKMHRA, and Anvisa-approved factories, ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care in treating their gastric issues.
