India needs stronger collaboration between academia, government research laboratories and the pharmaceutical industry to strengthen its research ecosystem, said Pharma Secretary Manoj Joshi. Joshi said India currently lacks the level of interaction between industry and government research institutions seen in several major global pharmaceutical markets. He called for greater engagement between pharmaceutical companies and organisations such as the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Strengthening the Research Ecosystem
Joshi highlighted the need to build stronger links between pharmaceutical companies and government laboratories. He noted that industry associations often focus their discussions on regulators and government officials, while research institutions receive less direct engagement. “There is a lot of distrust. I think we need to reduce that,” Joshi said, while also acknowledging that both government laboratories and industry may have areas that need improvement. According to him, India is missing an important component of the research ecosystem that has supported pharmaceutical development in the US, China and Europe. “Both the US and China and Europe have not grown without any government lab system or university lab system. We are lacking that in India,” he said. At the same time, Joshi stressed that India cannot rely solely on government or university laboratories. Instead, stronger partnerships between research institutions and private companies will be necessary to accelerate innovation.
Pharma Industry Urged to Increase R&D Investment
Joshi also called on pharmaceutical companies to increase their research and development (R&D) investments. At the same time, he said the government must work to accelerate regulatory approvals for innovative projects. “We wish that industry spends more on R&D and their approvals go very fast. That is something on us, but spending on us is on industry and let’s work together so that we can achieve that,” he said. This approach, he suggested, would require both industry and government to take responsibility for their respective areas while working towards a stronger pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
Government Considers Pharma Regulatory Changes
The government is discussing a broader overhaul of India’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework. Joshi expressed hope that significant changes could be introduced within the next one or two months. The proposed changes are aimed at improving the regulatory environment and supporting pharmaceutical innovation. Faster approvals could become particularly important as companies increase investments in research, manufacturing and emerging technologies.
Industry Sees Growing Investment and Risk-Taking
Joshi also highlighted signs of increasing risk appetite within India’s pharmaceutical sector. He said he was encouraged by companies investing in manufacturing facilities, contract research and development and manufacturing organisations (CRDMOs), and R&D activities. He also pointed to startups that are taking risks and exploring new opportunities. These investments could contribute to the development of a broader innovation ecosystem spanning research, manufacturing and commercialisation.
Pharma Industry Needs Clearer Policy Requests
Finally, Joshi urged pharmaceutical companies to make their requests to the government more specific. He noted that companies often make broad demands during public industry forums, while their discussions with government officials in private tend to be more detailed. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, he encouraged the industry to present specific proposals and clearly defined requirements, which could help the government better understand industry challenges and develop targeted responses.
