Even as top pharma companies were struggling to grow their sales in the US and Indian markets, one segment which stood out in the June quarter was the active pharmaceutical segment (APIs). While most Indian companies reported a drop in year-on-year sales in the two key geographies, API sales growth was in double digits. India and the US account for 70 per cent of revenues for most pharma majors while APIs account for 3-20 per cent.
Though a substantial part of the APIs are used by the companies inhouse for making formulations they are also supplied to third parties. The strong