Industry leaders say India’s next phase of growth will be driven by specialty medicines, biologics and novel therapies, supported by policy measures such as PLI schemes and bulk drug parks. | Photo Credit: iStockphoto

The pharmaceutical sector is undergoing a strategic shift from volume-driven expansion to high-value global competitiveness, with increasing emphasis on quality, innovation and trust.

Backed by $30 billion in annual exports and the highest number of USFDA-approved facilities outside the US, the industry is rapidly moving into complex generics, biosimilars and AI-driven smart manufacturing.

India strengthens global pharma leadership with exports and scale

Anil Matai, Director General, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, said as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’, India supplies nearly 20 per cent of global generic medicines by volume and about 60 per cent of global vaccine demand, with exports hitting about $30.47 billion in FY25 and registering 9.4 per cent growth.

The next phase of growth will be shaped by India’s shift beyond traditional generics towards specialty medicines, biosimilars, complex generics, biologics and novel therapies, while strengthening domestic API and key starting material manufacturing through continued support for PLI, bulk drug parks, infrastructure and technology upgradation, he said.

Innovation, quality and technology to drive next growth phase

Parthasarathy Sampathkumar, Head, Biocon Group Centre of Excellence, Biocon Group, said the pharmaceutical industry has the scale and capability to move up the value chain from generics to complex generics, biologics, specialty medicines and innovation-led therapies. To realise this potential, the focus must be on quality and excellence, not merely for regulatory compliance, but to deliver real value to patients, he added.

Rishal Shah, Founder, Jekson Vision said India supplies nearly 20 per cent of the world’s generic medicines, pharmaceutical exports have surpassed $30 billion annually, and the country has the largest number of US FDA-approved manufacturing facilities outside the United States.

“At PMEC India, we will showcase our latest AI-enabled technologies designed to simplify operations, enhance productivity and deliver measurable business outcomes,” he said ahead of CPHI & PMEC India 2026 expo.

Pharma ecosystem scale highlights need for focused industry platforms

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said the pharma ecosystem is highly diversified, with more than 3,000 pharmaceutical companies, about 10,500 manufacturing units and over 60,000 generic brands across nearly 60 therapeutic areas.

This depth requires a platform like CPHI & PMEC India expo that can offer greater focus, easier navigation and more meaningful category-led engagement, he added.

Published on June 24, 2026