Leading figures in India's pharmaceutical industry are calling for significant reforms to accelerate drug development and enhance global competitiveness. At the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) Symposium 2026, industry leaders highlighted critical hurdles, including lengthy regulatory processes, the absence of robust reimbursement mechanisms for new drugs, and the need for greater investment in research and development.
Streamlining Clinical Trials for Global Innovation
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon and Syngene International, voiced concerns over India's protracted regulatory procedures, which often compel companies to conduct early-stage clinical studies abroad. She advocated for establishing accredited research hospitals equipped with strong ethics committees to facilitate 'first-in-human' trials domestically.
Mazumdar-Shaw stressed the importance of expedited regulatory reviews without compromising quality, suggesting that advanced digital technologies like artificial intelligence could significantly speed up data analysis and decision-making. Building global confidence in India's clinical development and regulatory frameworks is crucial for the nation to rival biopharmaceutical innovation hubs like China.
Advocating for State-Backed Market Access
Glenn Saldanha, Chairman and Managing Director of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, pointed out the critical gap in India's healthcare system: the lack of government-backed reimbursement programs for life-saving medicines. He noted that such systems are standard in most Western countries, providing essential patient access and incentivizing companies to invest in treatments for serious diseases, where research costs are high and commercial success is uncertain.
While acknowledging initiatives like the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech (PRIP) scheme as positive steps, Saldanha emphasized that comprehensive reimbursement policies are vital to foster a sustainable market for innovative drugs and ensure their availability to patients.
Boosting Investment in Global R&D and Commercialization
Dilip Shanghvi, Executive Chairman of Sun Pharma, asserted that India's pharmaceutical industry has achieved a scale capable of developing and launching innovative products globally. However, he urged Indian promoters and chief executives to commit substantial capital to long-term research projects, acknowledging that returns might take years to materialize.
Shanghvi cited Sun Pharma's $11.75 billion acquisition of Organon as an example of strengthening global commercialization capabilities, which is projected to increase innovative products' contribution to the company's business from 22% to 30%. Glenmark, meanwhile, is pursuing licensing partnerships, such as its nearly $2 billion deal with AbbVie for an oncology asset, to expand its research-led portfolio.
Mazumdar-Shaw reinforced the necessity of a continuous flow of drug candidates, stating, "The pipeline is the lifeline. And therefore, we have to consistently invest in innovation. It cannot be a one-off." She projected that Indian companies could significantly expand their research-led businesses through a mix of licensing, acquisitions, and internal drug development over the next five to ten years.
Emphasizing Manufacturing Quality
The industry leaders also underscored the paramount importance of manufacturing quality for forging successful global partnerships. Shanghvi suggested that the pharmaceutical sector could draw lessons from fields like engineering and aviation, particularly in their approaches to consistency, defect prevention, and operational efficiency.
Saldanha added that major pharmaceutical companies are actively investing in advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, and artificial intelligence to maintain a competitive edge, though smaller firms may face resource constraints in adopting these innovations.