Pharma Industry

AI, trust and faster innovation bets to shape India's pharma future by 2047

At the IPA summit, pharma leaders said India's 2047 ambitions depend on embedding AI, strengthening trust and accelerating innovation, as speed and quality become the sector's defining advantages

CDSCO eases NOC norms to speed up clinical research and pharma exports

India's drug regulator is withdrawing export NOC requirements for SRA markets and easing other low-risk approvals, even as it strengthens oversight of manufacturing quality

Morepen Labs wins ₹825 crore manufacturing contract from global drugmaker

Morepen Laboratories said supplies under the contract are expected to begin within the next four to five months, while execution is scheduled through the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27

Expect Pen-G production capacity to touch 10k MT in 12 months: Aurobindo

Aurobindo Pharma is looking to ramp up the production of Penicillin-G to over 10,000 metric tonnes on an annual basis over the next 12 months, according to company CFO S Subramanian. The Hyderabad-based drug maker also expects its China-based manufacturing plant to break even in EBITDA in Q4 and meaningfully contribute to the bottom-line EBITDA in the next year. "The ramp-up of the facility (Pen-G) is progressing in line with expectations and is well-positioned to deliver a meaningful uplift in profitability over time. Based on our current production level, we expect to produce more than 10,000 metric tonnes on an annualised basis over the next 12 months," Subramanian told analysts in a call. The company's Pen-G facility, located in a SEZ at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, is expected to touch production capacity of 15,000 metric tonnes per annum over a period of time. "It is important to note that the yield levels are steady and improving consistently over time," Subramanian said. Th

USFDA issues Form 483 with 4 observations for Piramal Pharma's T'gana plant

Piramal Pharma has said the US health regulator has issued Form 483 with four observations after inspecting its Telangana-based manufacturing plant. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) conducted an inspection of the company's Digwal (Telangana ) based plant from February 9, 2026, to February 13, 2026. At the conclusion of the inspection, the USFDA issued a Form-483, with four observations, Piramal Pharma said in a regulatory filing on Friday. These observations are related to enhancement in procedures and not related to data integrity and indicated to be classified as a VAI (voluntary action indicated), it added. The company is preparing a detailed response to the observations, which will be submitted to the USFDA within the stipulated timelines, the drug maker stated. Piramal Pharma remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of compliance and will work closely with the agency to comprehensively address all the observations, it added. As per the USFDA, Form 48

ECDS to set up medical equipment manufacturing unit with ₹780 cr investment

ECDS, a company specialised in sustainable development technologies, on Wednesday announced it will set up a medical equipment manufacturing unit in Ujjain with an initial investment of Rs 780 crore under a joint venture with three South Korean companies. According to the company, this will be its first factory in India. "We have submitted a proposal to the state government to set up a unit on 15.60 acres of land in the Medical Equipment Park in Vikram Udyogpuri, Ujjain, of which we have already acquired 1.5 acres. This will be our first unit in the country," said Rajesh Bharadwaj, director of ECDS's Indian branch. He said construction will begin this year with an initial investment of Rs 780 crore, and the first phase of production will start by April 2027. "In the first phase, efforts will be made to provide employment to approximately 500 people," Bharadwaj told reporters in Indore. He said ECDS has partnered with three South Korean companies in a 50:50 joint venture to impleme

Dr Lal back on the acquisition trail, tests South India for opportunities

After a three-year strategic pause, diagnostics firm is unlocking its balance-sheet capacity look for growth-boosting acquisitions

Eyeing a growth pill: Pharma Inc calls for easier regulatory prescription

Industry says approval delays, weak clinical trial infra holding back sector

Budget announcements to position India as value-led biopharma ecosystem

Pharma-focused Budget 2026 measures could help India move beyond generics by boosting biologics, biosimilars, regulatory capacity and early-stage innovation, analysts say

India-US trade deal: Pharma sees no major change during Section 232 probe

India's pharmaceutical exports to the US are unlikely to see major tariff changes under the interim pact as Section 232 investigations continue, though medical devices may gain from better access

Budget 2026: Customs duty relief to make cancer, rare disease drugs cheaper

A customs duty exemption on select high-cost cancer and rare disease therapies is expected to lower treatment costs for patients while supporting demand for multinational and domestic pharma companies

Pharma leap: Volume to value-based growth as India targets $500-bn industry

The Budget recognises that innovation must translate into tangible benefits for patients

Budget 2026: Towards a healthier India through strategic healthcare push

The Budget reframes healthcare as a strategic national capability, backing biopharma innovation, workforce expansion and technology-led governance to power India's next growth phase

FM announces ₹10,000 crore scheme to promote biopharma manufacturing

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Mission Biopharma Shakti in the Budget, a five-year ₹10,000 crore programme to build domestic capabilities in biologics, biosimilars and clinical research

Sun Pharma Q3FY26 profit rises 16% on new launches, revenue climbs 13.5%

US generics remain under pressure while API revenues decline during the quarter

Biocon opens ₹4,500 crore QIP, sets floor price at ₹387.74 per share

Biocon has opened a ₹4,500-crore QIP and fixed a floor price of ₹387.74 per share. The company said it may offer a discount of up to 5% and will finalise pricing with lead managers

Indian pharma cos' new drug filings decline to 20-year low, Nomura says

Abbreviated new drug application filings have declined to 600 in the financial year 2025 (ending in September) versus 740 in the preceding year, Nomura said

DoP invites proposals under two schemes to cut medtech import reliance

With India importing about 70 per cent of its medical devices, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has invited proposals under two sub-schemes to reduce import dependence and support clinical studies

Pharma leaders flag quality, sustainability as export priorities for 2026

At Pharmexcil's 2025 AGM, industry leaders stressed a shift from volume-led growth to quality, sustainability and market diversification as India's pharma export strategy looks ahead to 2026

'Eye on $500 bn by 2047, pharma steps into 2026 with focus on innovation'

India's pharmaceutical industry is stepping into 2026, marking the beginning of a critical five-year period to build the required ecosystem to establish itself as an innovation hub in its bid to become a USD 500 billion sector by 2047, amid near-term challenges of tariff fluctuations and global trade realignments. The predominantly generic medicines-driven domestic drug industry, which has grown from USD 3 billion to USD 60 billion in size over the past 25 years, is shifting towards innovation in next-generation drugs. At the same time, it will also seek to capitalise on the opportunity to capture drugs worth over USD 300 billion that are set to lose exclusivity over the next seven years. "Today, Indian pharma stands at a defining moment and the next 25 years will be shaped by innovation, quality, and access," Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said. The innovation agenda has gained notable momentum among the domestic players, he noted. "From 2026 onwa