On the morning of December 2nd, the Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company (Bidiphar) held the inauguration of a cancer treatment drug production plant according to GMP-EU standards, and the groundbreaking ceremony for a new plant producing small-volume sterile drugs according to GMP-EU standards in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone (Binh Dinh). The event was attended by Dr. Nguyen Quan, Former Member of the Central Party Executive Committee, Former Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Do Xuan Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Health; Mr. Le Kim Toan, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Binh Dinh, along with representatives of central and local government ministries and departments.

Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical (Bidiphar) has completed the construction of a cancer treatment drug production plant that adheres to the GMP-EU (Good Manufacturing Practice-European Union) standards. The plant occupies an area of over 1.5 hectares and has received a total investment of over 500 billion Vietnamese dong. It is equipped to produce two formulations: injectable drugs with a capacity of 3 million units per year, and tablets with a capacity of 70 million units per year.

The plant is equipped with fully automated and enclosed facilities, incorporating advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies such as sterile drug production, isolator technology, and freeze-drying in a completely sealed and automated production line. The entire production process is controlled by the Stada system, which includes traceability control, automated data collection and control, and access control. This plant is the largest-scale cancer treatment drug production facility in Vietnam that meets the GMP-EU standards.

During this occasion, Bidiphar initiated the construction of a small-volume sterile drug production plant that adheres to the GMP-EU standards. This plant is part of Bidiphar’s advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster located in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, covering an area of 2.5 hectares and with a total investment of 840 billion Vietnamese dong. It is projected that the plant will commence operations by 2027 with a production capacity of 120 million units per year, including injectable drugs, eye drops, and other forms of sterile drugs.

In his speech at the event, Mr. Do Xuan Tuyen, the Deputy Minister of Health, praised the proactive production of pharmaceuticals by domestic pharmaceutical companies, including Bidiphar. He acknowledged their contribution to ensuring an adequate and timely supply of medicines to meet the treatment needs of patients, especially during major infectious disease outbreaks such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. As a leading pioneer in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry, Bidiphar is encouraged to continue enhancing its workforce capabilities and strengthening international cooperation in research and technology transfer with partners both domestically and internationally. This is aimed at developing and manufacturing innovative generic drugs and specialized medications. Furthermore, in line with the development strategy of the pharmaceutical sector, Bidiphar is urged to focus on actively creating breakthroughs in leveraging the competitive advantage of local medicinal plants. The company should continue developing its medicinal plant cultivation project in An Toan commune (An Lao district, Binh Dinh province), integrating medicinal plants into industrial production, and generating employment opportunities for people living in mountainous areas.

Being at the forefront of cancer treatment drug production, Bidiphar has made significant progress since the implementation of the state-level scientific and technological project “Research, Development, and Application of Cancer Treatment Drug Production Technology at Bidiphar Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Company” assigned by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2014. Bidiphar has developed 17 active ingredients, resulting in 40 products supplied to treatment facilities. Currently, Bidiphar leads the domestic market in the production of cancer treatment drugs.

Until now, Bidiphar has supplied over 5 million units of products to the market, with prices lower than the average European drugs by 40% and lower than Asian drugs by 20%. Bidiphar’s line of cancer treatment drugs has contributed to cost savings in the treatment of patients amounting to hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong.

“Bidiphar’s cancer treatment drugs have been trusted and utilized in hospitals ranging from central-level facilities to healthcare institutions with oncology departments nationwide. In addition to the existing injectable cancer treatment drug line circulating in the market, the new cancer treatment drug production plant will also have a tablet production line. This production line is expected to be operational with over 10 successfully researched products,” said Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Huong, CEO of Bidiphar.

According to Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh province, over 10 years ago, no one would have thought that a pharmaceutical company in Binh Dinh could successfully research and produce cancer treatment drugs. No one would have thought that Binh Dinh could build the largest and most modern cancer treatment drug production plant in Vietnam. Today’s event has demonstrated that a local enterprise, despite being in a small locality, can still accomplish great and pioneering things. This is also a new motivation in the journey of developing high-tech industries in Binh Dinh province in the coming years. The operation of the cancer treatment drug production plant and the groundbreaking of the GMP-EU standard small-volume sterile drug production plant hold significant importance for Bidiphar, as well as the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. Alongside the investment in the plant, Bidiphar is actively completing research and development activities for new products, focusing on medicines that Vietnam currently does not produce and are imported to enhance the value of domestically manufactured goods. This contributes to the successful implementation of the Vietnamese Pharmaceutical Industry Development Strategy by 2030 and the vision for 2045, which has been approved by the Prime Minister.