New Delhi: India’s life sciences industry has emerged as a prominent global player, earning the title “pharmacy of the world” for its extensive production of generic drugs and vaccines. As of October 2024, India has manufactured half the eight billion vaccine doses produced and distributed worldwide over the past year. Simultaneously, the sector is expanding into new areas in line with global healthcare trends, where advancements in personalized medicine, gene therapy, and mRNA-based treatments are increasingly reshaping treatment approaches. In 2024, India is leveraging its strengths in cost-effective manufacturing, a skilled workforce, and scientific expertise. Looking toward 2025, it will focus more on innovation-led growth, including increased R&D efforts, updated regulatory frameworks, and strengthened partnerships to enhance global competitiveness.
In an interview with News9Live, Mr. Vishal Goel, MD, RX Propellant, discussed the advent of technology in healthcare in India.
Venturing into New Fields While Riding on Tech
The present year witnessed India’s life sciences sector making significant strides in adopting global innovations, incorporating technologies such as AI, digital health, and precision medicine to build its biopharma production capacity. Initiatives like the BioE3 Policy and the National Digital Health Mission have encouraged the adoption of AI-powered diagnostics and personalized healthcare models. Besides, India’s biopharma expansion underscores its ambition to capture a larger share of the $36 billion global biosimilars marketPolicy-led stimulus like the Production Linked Incentives (PLIs) and streamlined regulatory processes are helping India shorten R&D phases and keep pricing competitive. This has prepared the country to meet the rising global demand for advanced therapeutics, with spending in this area expected to increase by 38% through 2028. The demand is robust in fields like immunology and oncology. India supplies only 1.5% of the global demand for biosimilars by export value, but this share could increase to 10% over the next decade. Medicine volumes in India are projected to grow by 3% annually, reflecting broader trends across Asia, where medicine use is expected to rise by 12% over the next five years. These promising figures indicate a positive outlook for India’s contribution to healthcare accessibility and affordability by 2025.
Focus on Regulatory Transformation and Sustainability
India recently modernised its regulatory framework to facilitate faster access to essential medications and therapies. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) implemented a digital approval process, drastically reducing review times for biologics and biosimilars. India’s acceptance of clinical data from select regions has also minimized redundant trials, increasing the country’s favorability as a biopharma and biotech hub.
Life sciences companies are also investing in sustainable infrastructure. Reflecting global trends, green-certified infrastructure and circular economy principles are quickly taking hold in India. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories exemplifies this change, with five of its manufacturing facilities certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and its Bachupally facility joining the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network for sustainable operations.
Supply chain sustainability also matters within the life sciences sector, given that over 70% of healthcare emissions originate in supply chains. In 2024, companies globally and in India are tackling this by implementing initiatives to track and reduce emissions across supply chains. AstraZeneca uses blockchain to monitor emissions throughout its supply chain, ensuring data-driven decisions to cut back on its environmental footprint and align with international standards. Lupin in India is enhancing supply chain transparency and engaging suppliers in its sustainability efforts as part of its eco-centered strategy. Next year, life sciences sectors are expected to embrace more integrated digital regulatory systems, enhancing real-time data flows and compliance. Sustainability will stay central, with initiatives emphasizing carbon neutrality and resource-efficient models across supply chains and infrastructure.
Convergence and Collaborations
This year, partnerships with IT, engineering, and international research organizations bolstered India’s position in life sciences innovation. Collaborations with U.S.-based firms focused on AI and bioinformatics to fast-track drug discovery processes and implement nanotechnology for precise treatments. For instance, the U.S.-India Artificial Intelligence Initiative (USIAI) and agreements with the U.S. National Science Foundation aided the joint research on AI-backed drug development and targeted therapies.
India has also prioritised partnerships between academic institutions and industry to expand its innovation network. These collaborations, supported by government policies, encourage synergies across sectors to meet market and societal needs. One such example is the partnership between IISc, Indegene, and Ignite Life Science Foundation, which provided advanced laboratory equipment for research on neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
These collaborative efforts globally and locally highlight the growing momentum in life sciences as nations and industries work together to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges. Similar collaborations will continue in 2025, steering innovations and breakthroughs in life sciences. These partnerships will remain critical in accelerating progress and enabling India to be more influential in global healthcare advancements.
Conclusion
India’s life sciences sector is advancing toward a substantial share of the biosimilars market. Plans to expand vaccine output, strengthen AI and biotechnology collaborations, and emphasize sustainable practices could help grow India’s bioeconomy to $300 billion by 2030. 2025 is expected to be a pivotal year in this journey, supporting its transition from a leader in generic medicines to a co-innovator in high-value therapeutics.
India’s life sciences industry has emerged as a prominent global player, earning the title “pharmacy of the world” for its extensive production of generic drugs and vaccines. As of October 2024, India has manufactured half the eight billion vaccine doses produced and distributed worldwide over the past year. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
