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Eskayef Pharmaceuticals

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical manufacturer and exporter serving human and animal health markets.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited, commonly known as SK+F, is a pharmaceutical company based in Bangladesh and a member of the Transcom Group. The business traces its corporate heritage to Smith, Kline & French operations in Bangladesh. Transcom acquired the Bangladeshi business in 1990, after which it continued as Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. The company adopted the name Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited in January 2017. Eskayef manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of therapeutic medicines, bulk pharmaceutical pellets, and animal-health and animal-nutrition products. Its human-health portfolio includes prescription and hospital medicines across several therapeutic areas. Products identified in reference material include Losectil, an omeprazole-based proton-pump inhibitor used in the treatment of acid-related conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, and heartburn; injectable remdesivir; and oral antiviral products including molnupiravir and the nirmatrelvir-and-ritonavir combination. The company has developed an export business in addition to serving the Bangladeshi market. Reference material states that Eskayef exported finished pharmaceutical products to 65 countries by 2021. An IMS report cited in the reference material placed the company among the six largest pharmaceutical companies operating in Bangladesh by sales in 2021, although no numerical sales figure is provided here. Eskayef’s business scope spans formulation manufacturing, marketing, international distribution, bulk-pellet production, and animal-health and nutrition products. Its corporate identity reflects both its historical connection with Smith, Kline & French and its later position within Transcom Group. The company is led by Simeen Rahman, who serves as managing director and chief executive officer. Detailed information on its founding date, headquarters location, ownership structure beyond its Transcom affiliation, manufacturing footprint, and current product-by-product market status is not established by the supplied reference material.

History

Eskayef Pharmaceuticals is the successor to Smith, Kline & French’s pharmaceutical operations in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi business was acquired by Transcom in 1990 and subsequently operated as Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. This acquisition established the company’s connection with Transcom Group and provided the corporate basis for its later development as a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical manufacturer. Over time, Eskayef expanded beyond a purely domestic pharmaceutical role. Its activities came to include the manufacture and marketing of a wide range of human therapeutic medicines, bulk pharmaceutical pellets, and products for animal health and nutrition. The company also developed export capabilities for finished medicines. By 2021, reference material stated that its finished products were being exported to 65 countries, indicating a substantial international distribution reach from its Bangladeshi base. The company’s portfolio includes medicines for acid-related gastrointestinal conditions, antiviral therapies, injectable products, and other therapeutic categories. Losectil, based on omeprazole, is identified as a proton-pump inhibitor used for gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, and heartburn. Eskayef also produces or markets oral molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir co-packaged with ritonavir, and injectable remdesivir. These antiviral products reflect the company’s participation in the pharmaceutical response to COVID-19 and related treatment demand. In January 2017, Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. was renamed Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited. The new name more directly described the company’s pharmaceutical identity while retaining the established Eskayef abbreviation and historical brand association. By 2021, an IMS report cited in the reference material ranked the company among the six leading pharmaceutical companies operating in Bangladesh by sales. No sales amount is supplied in the available material. Eskayef is led by Simeen Rahman as managing director and chief executive officer. The supplied sources do not establish a precise original founding year, a separate individual founder, the company’s headquarters address, its current manufacturing-site network, or detailed ownership percentages. Its documented corporate affiliation is with Transcom Group.

  • 2021

    International export network reaches 65 countries

    [1]

    The company was reported to export finished pharmaceutical products to 65 countries by 2021.

  • 2021

    Company appears among Bangladesh’s top six pharmaceutical businesses by sales

    [1]

    An IMS report cited in the reference material placed Eskayef among the six largest pharmaceutical companies operating in Bangladesh by sales.

  • 2017

    Corporate name changes to Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited

    [1]

    Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. adopted the name Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited in January 2017.

  • 1990

    Transcom acquires the Bangladeshi Smith, Kline & French successor

    [1]

    Transcom acquired the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical business that operated as the successor to Smith, Kline & French, creating the corporate foundation for Eskayef’s later development.

Products and positioning

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical manufacturer with domestic and international export operations across human health, bulk pharmaceutical ingredients or pellets, and animal-health markets.

  • Gastrointestinal medicine

    Losectil

    Losectil is an omeprazole-based proton-pump inhibitor. It reduces stomach-acid production and is used in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, and heartburn. The product is part of Eskayef’s human therapeutic portfolio.

  • Antiviral medicine

    Molnupiravir

    Eskayef manufactures or markets an oral molnupiravir product. The reference material identifies it as part of the company’s COVID-19-related antiviral offering, but does not provide a product launch date, specific markets, or current commercial status.

  • Antiviral medicine

    Nirmatrelvir co-packaged with ritonavir

    Eskayef is identified as producing or marketing the oral nirmatrelvir-and-ritonavir combination. The reference material does not specify the brand name, launch date, regulatory jurisdictions, or current availability.

  • Injectable antiviral medicine

    Remdesivir

    Injectable remdesivir is included among Eskayef’s pharmaceutical products. The supplied material does not establish its exact formulation, launch timing, distribution markets, or current status.

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing

    Bulk pharmaceutical pellets

    Eskayef manufactures bulk pellets used in pharmaceutical production. The reference material treats this as a distinct business activity alongside finished therapeutic medicines, but provides no detailed product catalogue or manufacturing specifications.

  • Veterinary and animal nutrition

    Animal health and nutrition products

    The company produces and markets products for animal health and animal nutrition. The available reference does not identify individual brands, therapeutic categories, launch dates, or geographic availability within this portfolio.

Brand decisions

  • 2017

    Adoption of the Eskayef Pharmaceuticals nameStrategy

    Background

    The company had operated as Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. after Transcom acquired the Bangladeshi Smith, Kline & French successor in 1990.

    Action taken

    In January 2017, the business changed its name to Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited.

    Aftermath

    The renamed company continued its pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing, and export activities under the Eskayef Pharmaceuticals identity.

Recent events

  • 2021

    Eskayef products exported to 65 countries by 2021[1]

    Other

    Reference material reports that the company exported finished pharmaceutical products to 65 countries by 2021.

  • 2021

    Eskayef ranked among Bangladesh’s six largest pharmaceutical companies by sales[1]

    Other

    An IMS report cited in the reference material placed Eskayef among the top six pharmaceutical companies operating in Bangladesh by sales in 2021.

  • 2017

    Eskayef Pharmaceuticals renamed from Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd.[1]

    Other

    The company changed its legal and corporate name to Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Limited in January 2017.

Sources8 sources

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