Academics and pharma industry leaders have said a stronger collaboration between academia and industry is needed as the global healthcare landscape evolves.

Pharmacists are the core of the pharmaceutical industry who deal with life-saving drugs, producing medicines that improve the quality of life, they said yesterday at the concluding day of the two-day Pharma Fest 2025 in Dhaka.

"The industry is now worth Tk37,000 crore, meeting 98% of the country's essential medicine needs, exporting to over 150 countries, and providing life-saving treatments to millions," said Zareen Karim, managing director of Orion Pharma Limited.

"We must foster partnerships for skill development, knowledge transfer, manufacturing, quality assurance, and capacity building. 'Redesign, Reformulate, and Regenerate' is not just a set of words – it's a call to action and a strong promise," she added.

Zareen Karim stressed the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry as the global healthcare landscape evolves, saying, "Let's work together to redesign, reformulate, and regenerate our pharmaceutical industry for every patient and family."

The festival, held at North South University (NSU) in the capital's Bashundhara, took place on 5-6 November under the theme "Redesign, Reformulate, Regenerate". It was organised by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in collaboration with the NSU Pharmaceutical Club (NSUPC).

Presented by Joya Sanitary Napkin, the event brought together representatives from leading pharmaceutical companies, faculty members, and students to exchange knowledge and explore future opportunities.

Dr Mohammad Hossain Shariare, professor and chairman of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, told The Business Standard that the event created a platform for meaningful collaboration.

"We have established an environment where industry professionals and academicians can comprehend each other's requirements, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome," he said.

He added that an Industry Advisory Board has been formed with the CEOs, managing directors, and directors of the country's top ten pharmaceutical companies to align education with real-world practices.

"We are conducting nano-delivery-based anti-cancer research in collaboration with Beacon Pharmaceuticals, where students are also directly involved. Through this fest, we aim to bring together the industry, academia, and healthcare sectors to enrich the country's healthcare system," he said.

In his closing remarks as chief guest, Md Nasser Shahriar Zahedi, chairman of Radiant Pharmaceuticals, said, "The hospital pharmacy will be the next major career prospect in pharmacy. I urge faculty members and students to give importance to this field."

Corporate engagement, career guidance

Nazrul Islam Sujon, senior officer (HR) at Incepta Pharmaceuticals, told The Business Standard, "Many students remain uncertain about their career paths. Through events like this, we interact with them directly, providing guidance and opportunities."

He said Incepta has introduced a fully paperless recruitment process. "Students who write 'Pharma Fest 2025' in the email subject line will receive priority consideration when they apply. However, the recruitment process will remain completely transparent and fair," he added.

All participating pharmaceutical companies accepted student CVs during the fest, underscoring a growing effort to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial practice.

NSU Pharma Fest