India’s growing stature as a global manufacturing hub for next-generation biologics took centre stage at BioAsia 2026, where industry leaders emphasised the country’s ability to scale advanced therapies—from vaccines and RNA platforms to cell and gene therapies. During a high-level panel discussion on advanced therapies, experts emphasized that biologics innovation today depends on more than just breakthrough science. They highlighted the importance of collaborative ecosystems, strong manufacturing depth, and scalable delivery models. The session was moderated by Gil Bashe, Chair, Global Health and Purpose at Finn Partners.
Vaccine Leadership and Global Ambition
Raches Ella, Chief Development Officer at Bharat Biotech, highlighted India’s pivotal contribution to global immunisation. He noted that one in three children worldwide receives a vaccine manufactured in India. This reflects the country’s strong end-to-end capabilities, from research and development to commercial-scale production. Bharat Biotech’s long-term ambition, he added, is to reach the global birth cohort of approximately 125 million children annually. This scale, combined with regulatory and manufacturing expertise, positions India as a cornerstone of global vaccine supply chains.
Early Adopter of Biomanufacturing Innovation
From a technology platform perspective, Jose Castillo, CEO of Quantoom Biosciences, described India as one of the earliest and most forward-looking markets for biomanufacturing innovation. He recalled that India deployed some of the first commercial bioreactors using Quantoom’s technology, reinforcing its willingness to adopt and scale cutting-edge R&D technologies. As global demand for RNA and advanced biologics platforms grows, India continues to serve as a critical market for industrialising innovation.
Building Manufacturing Ecosystems and Skilled Talent
The importance of robust manufacturing ecosystems and skilled manpower was further emphasised by Darrin Morrissey, CEO of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. He drew parallels with Ireland’s journey. He explained that sustained collaboration between the government and multinational companies over two decades helped build world-class biologics capabilities. Today, Ireland produces biologic medicines worth €100 billion annually, making it one of the largest global manufacturing bases in this segment. Importantly, Morrissey revealed that discussions are underway with the Telangana government to explore strategic partnerships. This signals growing global interest in aligning international expertise with India’s expanding biologics ecosystem.
Scaling Complex Therapies: CAR-T and Beyond
India’s capacity to industrialise highly complex therapies was highlighted by Simpson V. Emmanuel, President of ImmunoACT. He spoke about the development and commercialisation of CAR-T cell therapy in India, describing it as a transformative shift from traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing. Unlike conventional drugs, cell and gene therapies require highly specialised infrastructure, stringent quality controls, and integrated clinical pathways. India is rapidly building expertise in these areas.
Bridging Innovation and Patient Access
While the discussion celebrated technological progress, panelists also stressed the urgent need to align innovation with patient access.
Sai Praveen Haranath, Senior Vice-President (Medical and Strategy) at Apollo Health Axis, noted that transformative therapies are now available. However, large sections of the global population still lack access to essential medicines.
Madhuri Vusirikala is Vice-President of Clinical Development for BMT and Cellular Therapy at Actinium Pharmaceuticals. She highlighted the untapped potential of radioligand therapies in India. She noted that the field remains underdeveloped domestically, presenting significant opportunities for clinical trials and patient-focused innovation.
Biologics Future
Overall, the BioAsia 2026 discussion reinforced a clear message: India is no longer just a cost-efficient manufacturing base—it is evolving into a strategic partner in global biologics innovation. India is combining large-scale manufacturing capabilities, skilled scientific talent, supportive regulatory frameworks, and growing international collaboration. Through this integrated approach, the country is positioning itself to scale next-generation biologics and advanced therapies for both domestic and global markets. As reported by thehindu.com, as the demand for vaccines, RNA platforms, cell and gene therapies, and precision medicine accelerates, India’s role in shaping the future of global healthcare appears set to expand further.
