Why Indian pharma cos are investing in biologics

Oct 27,2023

Indian pharmaceutical companies are investing in biologics considering the demand for effective and safe treatments especially for cancer.

Traditionally dominated by small molecules, biologics are now emerging as the predominant molecule type in cancer treatment, a trend that experts observed during the Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients (CPHI) that concluded on Thursday.

“There is a rising global demand for biologic drugs, particularly in the treatment of complex diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and chronic conditions. Indian companies aim to tap into this expanding market and provide advanced treatment options,” said Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi, CEO of Aurobindo Pharma’s arm Apitoria Pharma.  

As projected at $120 billion by data and analytics firm GlobalData, the shift highlights a new era of personalised medicine and signals that biologics are set to surpass innovative small molecules in sales revenue by 2027.

“Similar to how generics have reduced costs and increased accessibility to conventional pharmaceuticals, biosimilars hold the same potential for biopharmaceutical products,” said Mahesh Bhalgat, COO at Syngene International. 

Small molecules, characterised by their simplicity, chemical synthesis, diverse mechanisms of action, versatile administration routes, and cost-effectiveness, have historically held an 80% share in the pharmaceutical landscape, as per GlobalData's Drugs Database.  

In contrast, biologic drugs, derived from living organisms through advanced biotechnological methods, encompass various molecule types, including monoclonal antibodies and cell therapies. These biologics offer diverse modalities for addressing once-untreatable diseases and conditions lacking alternative therapies. Since the advent of genetic engineering in the early 1980s, biologics have steadily gained prominence in production and development.

Biologics target specific cancer-related molecules and pathways, growing more effective due to research and development breakthroughs.  

“Innovations like CAR T-cell therapy and checkpoint inhibitors use the immune system to combat cancer. While biologics can be pricier than traditional chemotherapy, their higher efficacy and safety with fewer side effects make them the preferred choice for many cancer types. This leads to the expectation of continued biologics dominance in India's cancer treatment market,” said Dr. Poonam Patil, Consultant - Medical Oncology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.  

Source: Businesstoday