CURRENT VS NEW WORLD
CURRENT: Regulatory clearance for plants with even minor errors takes months and years
NEW: The USFDA has cleared IPCA Labs’ two facilities, apart from that of Lupin (4), Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (2), Aurobindo (2) and Biocon (2) since March 2020
CURRENT: India’s global distribution based on quality, cheaper production from the country.
NEW: Nations likely to demand production from own soil; companies like Lupin, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila and Dr. Reddy's already have manufacturing set-ups in key geographies
CURRENT: Low level of automation in manufacturing and regulatory processes
NEW: Companies are trying to use more highend technology. Lupin is using robots in one of its advanced facilities and a chatboat for enhancing doctor-patient interaction
CURRENT: India depends on China for 65-75 per cent of raw materials.
NEW: Raw material sourcing shifting to multiple countries, even in-house. India makes a beginning to set up three bulk drug parks for ` 3,000 crore. It has also given ` 7,000 crore worth incentives for domestic production of key raw materials and intermediates
CURRENT: Companies make a large basket of products across therapeutic categories
NEW: Companies will prioritise drugs in demand and end-to-end manufacturing; Cipla to focus on its traditional strength of respiratory drugs and inhaler devices, Lupin on select biosimilars, injectables and brands
CURRENT: Digital marketing, teleconsultations and digital therapeutics to gain prominence
NEW: Most Indian companies now use digital tools for business meetings, supply chain management and sales tracking. Cipla last year invested in digital therapeutics company Wellthy Therapeutics
CURRENT: Less spend on scientific innovations and public health expenditure
NEW: Spending on public health and innovation to rise. India launches Covid-19 Innovations Deployment Accelerator, a consortium of funding partners from government, NGOs and private sector. Government makes available 200-plus Covid-19-related innovations for use by the private sector