Indian Pharmaceuticals Industry Analysis

Indian pharmaceutical sector industry supplies over 50 per cent of global demand for various vaccines, 40 per cent of generic demand in the US and 25 per cent of all medicine in UK. India contributes the second largest share of pharmaceutical and biotech workforce in the world. The pharmaceutical sector in India was valued at US$ 33 billion in 2017. In Jul-Sep 2018, Indian pharmaceutical market grew 9.7 per cent and stood at Rs 1.26 trillion (US$ 17.95 billion) for the Moving Annual Total (MAT) ended September. In November 2018, the Indian market grew by 6.3 per cent year-on-year.

With 71 per cent market share, generic drugs form the largest segment of the Indian pharmaceutical sector. Domestic API consumption is expected to reach US$ 18.8 billion by FY22. The country accounts for the second largest number of Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) and is the world’s leader in Drug Master Files (DMFs) applications with the US Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals sector has received cumulative FDI worth US$ 15.83 billion between April 2000 and June 2018.

Indian drugs are exported to more than 200 countries in the world, with the US as the key market. Generic drugs account for 20 per cent of global exports in terms of volume, making the country the largest provider of generic medicines globally and expected to expand even further in coming years. India’s pharmaceutical exports stood at US$ 17.27 billion in FY18 and US$ 10.80 billion in FY19 (up to October). In 2018-19, these exports are expected to cross US$ 19 billion. 31 per cent of these exports from India went to the US.

The Government of India plans to set up a US$ 640 million venture capital fund to boost drug discovery and strengthen pharmaceutical infrastructure. The ‘Pharma Vision 2020’ by the government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals aims to make India a major hub for end-to-end drug discovery.