Introduction:

The 17th edition of CPHI &PMEC India brought together global and domestic pharmaceutical leaders, innovators and stakeholders to spotlight the country’s pharmaceutical industry and its remarkable growth and potential. The event was held at the India Expo Centre and Mart from November 26-28, 2024 which also served as a dynamic platform for showcasing advancements in the related technologies, concepts related to sustainability and leadership. In this article, we have taken a deep dive into the concepts discussed in the event and thrown some light on the concepts for the stakeholders and interested readers to take insights and lessons from the concepts. Let’s begin.

CPHI showcases Indian pharma’s capabilities to a global audience

The 17th edition of CPHI & PMEC India was organized by Informa Markets from November 26-28 at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. The event demonstrated the actual potential of the Indian pharmaceutical market which is expected to grow $130 billion by 2030 and $450 billion by 2047. The statistics also emphasize the role of the pharmaceutical industry in promoting global healthcare. At the event, CPHI India featured a line of exhibitors which included suppliers of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), excipients, and drug formulations. On the other hand, PMEC India highlighted the innovations that are creating quite a bit of stir in the industry including innovations in pharmaceutical equipment, packaging, process automation and processing equipment. The event brought over 2000 exhibitors, and 5000 visitors from across 150 countries including the USA, UAE, South Korea, Japan and the UK.

The CPHI lineup of exhibitors included leading names and their activities like:
 

Overall these exhibitors collectively showcased the nation’s diverse pharmaceutical strengths including innovations in drug formulation, advanced APIs, sustainable excipients and global healthcare solutions. They have also engaged with attendees through product demonstrations and carried out discussions on emerging trends and networking to foster partnerships.

Discussions about the strong growth potential of the Indian pharmaceutical industry:

Mr. AVPS Chakravarthy, global ambassador of, the World Packaging Organization (WPO), took the discussion into some of the crucial advancements in the industry and the broader implications of such innovations. He mentioned Carticel Therapy given for cancer treatment where the T-cells are engineered to target and destroy cancer cells and this has opened a promising method in treating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. In this advanced methodology of treating cancer, the T-cells of immune cells are collected from the patient and are genetically modified in a laboratory to express specific receptors called CARs. This receptor enables the T-cells to recognize and attack the cancer cells. Therefore, once the modification is done at the laboratory, these T-cells are infused back into the patient where they actively target and eliminate the cancerous cells.

When commercialized, such advanced, cutting-edge therapies can be cost-effective global treatments. Such advancements will enhance India’s position in the development of precision medicine and personalized therapies.

He also mentioned Nafithromycin which is called a next-generation Macrolide antibiotic that is developed to combat drug-resistant bacteria infections. The rise of antimicrobial resistance is considered a severe threat to global health and we witness several health professionals admit to the threat in social media and otherwise. Therefore this advanced antibiotic targets those Drug-resistant pathogens and can be a powerful solution where the conventional anti-biotics fail.

The number of patients affected by respiratory tract infections caused by multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is growing and this drug is considered to be an effective solution for them. Also, the drug is expected to be effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains.

These advancements or developments are extremely crucial for a country like India, where there are high rates of infectious diseases and these advancements are considered most crucial for the development of domestic healthcare and global supply chains.

Consider the broader implications of these innovations:

Although these were not covered at the event, we can’t deny the broader and positive implications of these innovations.
 

Dr. Veeramani, Chairman, of Pharmexcil, mentioned that the Indian pharmaceutical industry is capable of exporting to over 200 countries while supplying a variety of medicines, vaccines and other healthcare solutions. He also added that our nation is known as the “API capital of the world due to its solid manufacturing base. Furthermore, Indian companies are capable of supplying the finished dosages for the patients to use such as tablets, capsules and injectables through affordable generics, especially in therapeutic areas such as diabetes, oncology and cardiology.

He also mentioned the country’s ability to become the hub for clinical trials, leveraging its large patient pool, skilled professionals and cost-effective infrastructure. This involves Pharmacovigilance, which is a process of monitoring the safety of drugs post-approval to ensure they remain effective and safe for use. Indian companies play a significant role in assisting global pharmacovigilance efforts to provide excellent medical support to the world.

During the event, he also addressed the contemporary innovations in biologics and specialty generics that are rapidly advancing, and that possess biosimilars and products that bring the country’s expertise in generics with innovation and cost-effective alternatives to the high-priced branded drugs.

They have also covered the topics related to the impact of the US Biosecure Act which emphasizes the need for secure supply chains in pharmaceuticals especially for critical drugs and APIs. The way it encourages diversifying sources to reduce dependence on a single country like China.

On the other hand, the Indian pharmaceutical industry also benefits from the policy such as global companies that seek alternative suppliers with robust manufacturing capabilities. It also strengthens the country’s position as a preferred supplier of essential medicines and APIs to the US and other markets.

Mr. K. Raja Bhanu, Director General, Pharmexcil commented on the exports and their role in contributing to the market size of $55 billion. He also mentioned the future projections in exports that are expected to grow to $130 billion by 2030 and $450 billion by 2047 showcasing the country’s potential to dominate the global pharmaceutical market.

The major drivers mentioned in the event are as follows:
 

Overall the pharmaceutical sector is considered a major contributor to the country’s GDP and viewed as a significant source of foreign exchange.

India’s affordable medicines ensure access to healthcare for millions across the globe that covers critical health challenges such as HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria.

These segments in the event have given rise to some of thought-provoking questions like:

How can countries like India further leverage their strength to address global healthcare challenges such as antimicrobial resistance or pandemic preparedness?

What strategies should India adopt to ensure sustainable growth in exports while maintaining quality and regulatory compliance?

How can policies such as the US Biosecure Act shape the country’s role in global pharmaceutical supply chains?

Mr. Namit Joshi, Vice chairman, of Pharmexil, commented on the concept of integrating IT with pharmaceuticals that will further strengthen the industry’s role while paving the way for dominance in biologics and biosimilars. The integration of IT and pharmaceuticals includes IT-driven solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning(ML), and data analytics that are revolutionizing drug discovery, manufacturing and supply chain management.

These advanced technologies are well applied in applications such as

AI in drug discovery helps in faster identification of potential drug candidates and optimization of clinical trial designs.

Data analytics in manufacturing for predictive maintenance, quality control, and improved efficiency in production.

Blockchain in the supply chain to enhance traceability and reduce counterfeit drugs.

The dominance in biologics and biosimilars is considered more efficient to produce and monitor, enabling the country to dominate the high-value market.

Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India commented on the leadership of India in the sector that stems from the key advantages such as low manufacturing costs which is about 30-35% lower than countries like the US and Europe. He also included cost-efficient R&D which lies at 87% less than developed markets and an abundance of skilled labor. These strengths position India as a formidable player that shapes the future of global healthcare.

The low manufacturing costs are achieved through efficient processes and inexpensive labour, therefore generic medicines produced in India are often 60-90% cheaper than their branded counterparts.

Likewise, pharmaceutical research and development in the country costs about 87% less than in the developed markets, which is due to lower operational costs for running clinical trials and regulatory processes. Therefore India is considered a major hub for contract research organizations thereby enabling global companies to outsource drug development activities.

India has a vast pool of scientists, chemists, and engineers specializing in pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Therefore this skilled workforce is considered crucial for maintaining quality and driving innovation in the sector.

Mr. Adam Anderson, Executive Vice President - Pharma, Informa Markets B.V. covered the topics related to the growth of the biopharma industry which accounts for about 35% of the global market. The growth extends across the entire supply chain including contract manufacturing and packaging, and thereby packing a ton of opportunities for India.

Biopharmaceuticals encompass biologics and biosimilars which are some of the fastest growing segments in healthcare. The growth is expected to constitute about 35% of the global pharmaceutical market by 2027 which is driven by the demand for personalized medicine, immunotherapies and advanced treatments. He also stated some of the opportunities that lay ahead in the path for India which includes contract manufacturing for both APIs and finished drugs. Also, innovations in pharmaceutical packaging like temperature-controlled packaging for biologics are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the medicines during transportation.

For instance: India’s Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) are partnering with global players to cater to rising demands in biopharma.

Summary:

The 17th edition of CPHI &PMEC India showcases the potential of the Indian pharmaceutical industry and its ability to shape the future of global healthcare. These healthy discussions and contributions only accentuate thriving countries like India towards their goal. Since the event highlighted the country’s growing influence driven by innovation, cost-efficiency and robust talent pool it doesn’t mean that it should lose its focus on developing technologies such as AI. The event also addressed the sustainability challenges and geopolitical opportunities such as the Biosecure Act, which combined to position the country to expand its global footprint. The discussions of biologics, biosimilars, green chemistry and women’s leadership highlighted the sector’s focus on embracing diversity, innovation and environmental responsibility. Overall these events are considered as a vital platform for stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and drive meaningful progress reaffirming the country’s leadership in delivering affordable, and accessible healthcare solutions.