New Delhi, July 15: The number of pharmaceutical patents developed in India has surged more than fourfold over the past decade. Additionally, the country’s drug discovery pipeline has expanded to over 1,095 across 195 companies, according to a report released on Wednesday.
This trend indicates that India is rapidly transitioning from a generic drug production model to an innovation-driven research framework.
A joint report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and HealthCois highlights that India stands at a critical juncture. The next five years will determine whether it can leverage its scientific talent, cost competitiveness, and data strength to establish a globally competitive life sciences innovation ecosystem.
The report reveals that the number of pharmaceutical patent families developed in India has increased from approximately 716 in 2015 to 2,995 in 2024, marking an increase of over four times. Furthermore, private equity and venture capital investments in the pharmaceutical sector have more than doubled, reaching $731 million in the fiscal year 2026.
During this period, the number of biotech startups in the country has grown from about 1,500 to 2,400. India’s share of global pharmaceutical patents has risen from 3-4% to nearly 10%, reflecting significant progress not only in quantity but also in quality.
The report also notes that India has developed over ten new drug assets in the last decade. Indian companies are no longer limited to generics and biosimilars; they are rapidly advancing towards the development, licensing, and commercialization of innovative drugs for global markets.
Four key factors driving this acceleration have been identified. These include nearly $5 billion in government funding for early and translational research, strong collaboration between educational institutions and industry, regulatory reforms that have reduced drug development timelines from 180-270 days to 60-120 days, and shared research and manufacturing infrastructure like Genome Valley and C-CAMP.
The report highlights early successes, including BIRSA 101, India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based therapy, and NEXCAR 19, an indigenous CAR-T therapy. The cost of NEXCAR 19 is approximately one-tenth that of similar treatments available abroad.
Priyanka Agarwal, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG India and Southeast Asia, stated, “India’s innovation journey has now gained real momentum, and its development as a sustainable innovation engine is rapidly advancing.”
Charles Janssen, Co-founder and Managing Partner of HealthCois, remarked, “We are witnessing global pharma companies licensing scientific research developed in India, and indigenous CAR-T therapies are treating patients at significantly lower costs compared to global prices. There is a need for investments that understand science and support it through its early uncertain years. This will differentiate between a few select successes and a robust, sustainable innovation engine.”
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