Indian Pharma industry looks at avenues beyond generics

If the current trend is any testimony, Indian pharma companies are gradually breaking into the field of research and development to create new molecules, switching the proverbial hat from just being producers of generic versions of drug compounds. The Pharma Letter's Anjali Shukla caught up with Jayant Manglik, president at Religare Securities Ltd in New Delhi to discuss the current trends in the industry.

“The India Pharma story, as we all know it, has had its strength in the generics, the Ciplas and Sun Pharmas of the world. All of them have had their strength traditionally in generics, and while the companies have done well now, a lot of companies are looking at moving up the value chain and getting into the molecule side of the business,” said Jayant Manglik.

Religare was the financial services arm of one of India’s largest generics producer Ranbaxy Laboratories. The company was acquired by Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) in 2008 and later bought by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (BOM: 524715), the biggest drugmaker in the country.