India’s pharmaceutical industry is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and biologic drugs to make medicine development faster, cheaper and more innovative.
Major companies are now using AI to study huge amounts of medical and scientific data. This helps them find new drug targets quickly, design better clinical trials and reduce the long trial-and-error process in research. As a result, the time and money needed to develop a new medicine can come down significantly. The move is important as Indian firms try to go beyond their traditional focus on low-cost generic medicines and enter the high-value innovation space.
At the same time, biologics and biosimilars are becoming a key growth area. These are complex medicines used to treat diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders and are in high demand globally. Indian companies are investing in this segment so they can capture a larger share of the global market while continuing to supply affordable generics.
Hyderabad is emerging as a major centre for this change. The city is seeing new investments in research facilities, global capability centres and AI-based healthcare technology. This is helping create skilled jobs and strengthening India’s position in life-sciences innovation.
Experts say AI can improve not only drug discovery but also manufacturing, supply chain planning and demand forecasting. This will make the industry more efficient and competitive worldwide.
However, some challenges remain. The sector needs more funding for research, faster regulatory approvals and a stronger system that rewards companies for developing new drugs. Industry leaders believe India must move from a low-cost model to an innovation-driven model to stay ahead globally.