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Indian pharma works on innovation & process development to cement its capability in APIs
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
February 28 , 2025
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Indian pharma has been focusing on innovation and process development to strengthen its capabilities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This will see the industry reduce its dependence on imports.
According to Chetan Shah, whole-time director and chief operating officer, Senores Pharmaceuticals, “India’s API industry is undergoing a phase of transformation owing to the rise in health challenges. The need for essential medicines is a direct result of the rising occurrence of diseases like Covid-19, cancers and cardiovascular and neurological disorders.”
Quoting the Axis Securities report, he said in the second quarter of FY25, the sector as a whole has grown 10.2% YoY and 1.7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Noticeable growth has come from North America (10.8% YoY) and India (9.8% YoY).
Environmental disasters like global warming and pollution are aggravating public health, medicines have become essential to human survival, alongside food. Emerging complex diseases demand timely access to both existing and new drugs at affordable prices. In context, however, the pharma sector can work towards making available medicines more widely available and towards the development of new treatments for emerging fatal diseases, said Shah.
Noting that APIs are a crucial component of pharmaceutical growth, he said investments in research and development (R&D) and innovation are crucial to effectively address the new health threats. APIs are the tape that binds the drug manufacturing together and their uninterrupted availability is an absolute must for curbing the rising demand.
Our country with its large skilled, trained manpower and knowledge base in the API sector, can emerge as one of the leaders in the world in producing APIs. The government has come out with numerous policies encouraging in-house manufacturing of APIs, so that they are not reliant on imports, and APIs are available at competitive prices. Through these, India can increase API manufacturing, not only sufficiently to meet local demand for essential medicines with good quality at low prices, but also to emerge as one of the leading suppliers for other international markets as well, said Shah.
Initiatives to encourage domestic API production by the government include production linked incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturers of APIs and key starting material. Bulk Drug Parks Scheme offer the infrastructure and financial assistance for API manufacturing units. It is reducing regulatory burdens, making it easier for approvals for new drugs and API manufacturing. Further there is encouragement to Public–Private Partnership (PPP) to promote a synergy between the government and private industry to increase R&D and manufacturing, he said.
India must train more pharma graduates and expand R&D-focused education to boost API production. Encouraging young professionals in research will enhance domestic API quality, ensuring self-sufficiency and surplus for export, further strengthening India's global pharma leadership.
The growing global health concerns, increasing API production, and government policies will continue to support the pharma industry. Focusing on innovation, process development, and manufacturing capability for APIs within India will cement India's role globally. Accelerating access to essential medicines forms the backbone of a resilient national health infrastructure. This translates into lucrative prospects for economic development through increased exports and partnerships with global players, said Shah.
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