Over the last few decades, India has made many huge stomps and steps to emerge as one of the medical hubs in the world. The country has seen an immense improvement in the quality and the number of it’s healthcare facilities and has successfully averted several preventable disease epidemics. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has provided India with an opportunity to play the lead role in the global biotech ecosystem. The pandemic has assisted the country in setting up the ideal ecosystem for production, sourcing, and exporting medical devices and vaccines.

POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN INDIA:-

– The number of biotech startup registrations has surged throughout the nation in 2021, with around 1,128 new startups registered, which is the highest in a single year since 2015. Estimates put the total number of biotechnology startups at 6,756 as of 2022. The number of startups is expected to reach 10,000 by 2025.
– India has 665 FDA-approved plants in the US; 44% of the global abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) and more than 1,400 manufacturing plants, which are compliant with WHO’s requirements. The country is also the world’s third-largest producer of recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine and second-largest producer of BT cotton (genetically modified pest-resistant plant cotton).
– From 2015-2020, India’s biotechnology industry grew rapidly, doubling from US$ 30.2 billion to US$ 70.2 billion in five years. The Indian biotechnology industry is expected to reach US$ 150 billion by 2025 and has the potential to reach US$ 270-300 billion by the year 2030.
– By 2025, the contribution of the Indian biotechnology industry to the global biotechnology market is expected to grow to 19%. The Indian biologics market is forecasted to reach US$ 12 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 22%.

SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:-

– In November 2021, Serum Institute of India restarted deliveries of Covid-19 shots to global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX for the first time since April 2021.
– In February 2022, Genova Biopharmaceuticals, who were conducting phase 2 and 3 trials of India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine on humans, GEMCOVAC-19 is the very first mRNA vaccine developed in India and only third mRNA vaccine to be approved for COVID-19 in the world.
– In January 2022, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) made a major contribution to developing the world’s first Intranasal vaccine for Covid through Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL).
– In July 2023, Biocon Biologics launched a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s top selling biologic Humira (generically called adalimumab) in the US market under the brand name HULIO.
– In January 2024, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh inauguration of Biotech Startups Expo on “Emerging Startup Trends” in North India at Biotech Park, Kathua.

INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS TO BECOME A LEADING BIO-MANUFACTURING HUB:-

– Current Economic Status:
Currently, India accounts for approximately 3% of the global biotech industry.
The biotechnology sector in India has grown from $1.1 billion in 2003 to a mammoth $64 billion sector in 2019 and by 2024, it is expected to be a $100 billion industry.
– Growing Biotech Start-ups:
Currently, there are over 2,700 biotech start-ups and are expected to touch the 10,000-mark by 2024.
– To make India globally competitive in biotechnology research, innovation, translation, entrepreneurship and industrial growth and be a USD 150 billion Bio-economy by 2025, a new “National Biotechnology Development Strategy-2021-2025” has been announced with an ambitious target of Biotechnology contributing to a “knowledge and innovation driven Bio-economy.”
– The Government of India has supported 9 Biotech Parks and 146 Biotech-KISAN Hubs.

Hence, India’s preparedness to become a leading bio-manufacturing hub is corroborated by it’s skilled workforce, cost advantages, robust infrastructure, strong research capabilities, global partnerships and government support.