Amsterdam, 10th August 2017: CPhI release the findings the 2017 India Pharma Market Report, which identified a two-tier manufacturing market and forecast increased acquisitions by Indian companies, along with a notable improvement in the international reputation of Indian made pharmaceuticals. But perhaps most dramatically, a large majority of domestic companies called for urgent Government support to invest in API sites.
The report, which consolidated opinions from 500 domestic and international companies, identified four main areas Indian pharma companies are investing in – with 50% raising funds this year for ‘commercial scale and scale-up facilities’; around one third for ‘continuous processing’; and just over 20% each in both ‘biologics’ and ‘aseptic/sterile’. Over the next three-years, however, the number of companies planning to invest in biomanufacturing facilities rises to one third. It’s notable that the more expensive facilities and capabilities needed for continuous processing and biomanufacturing are being added to India’s traditional base of commercial-scale finished-product facilities.
Over the next one to three years, 36% of Indian pharma companies are planning acquisitions; 20% are looking at facilities in the USA and Europe, with 7% exploring options in the rest of the world. Domestic acquisitions also point towards a scramble amongst many SMEs for greater size and scale, with some 25% also looking at facilities within India itself.
These findings are announced ahead of CPhI India (27-30th November, 2017), which is forecast to reach a remarkable 40,000 attendees, with overseas interest in the country growing rapidly. The report also highlighted that the international reputation of the country on ‘data integrity’ has also improved massively; 96% agree that the CDSCO certification programmes and initiatives are helping increase compliance. Even more impressive is the fact that 52% of international respondents believed the CDSCO is moving toward comparability with the regulatory standards of the EMA and FDA.
A major concern highlighted amongst domestic companies (86%) was an over reliance on Chinese ingredients within the finished formulations sector. In fact, the majority of domestic companies (81%) believe that the Indian government needs to ‘urgently invest in domestic API facilities and provide tax-breaks and incentives to secure the Indian generics industry’ and prevent losses in market share.
Chief amongst the growth drivers reported are strong domestic sales in the next 2-3 years, generic APIs exports, as well as finished formulation for developed markets.
Finally, the report argued the biosimilars and biologic sector is now the hotbed of national innovation, and will see well above-market growth in India. With more biologics coming off-patent in the near future, there is a growing opportunity for pharma companies to make increased profits via biosimilars with interchangeable standards.
