India Pharma Conference 2026 to focus on drug innovation, biologicals

The 9th India Pharma Conference on April 13-14, 2026, will focus on innovation and development of drugs, particularly biologicals. It aims to strengthen the drug discovery ecosystem by streamlining regulatory processes and fostering collaboration.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, in collaboration with FICCI, is organising the 9th India Pharma Conference on April 13-14, 2026, with a strong focus on innovation, discovery, and development of drugs, particularly in the field of biologicals, Secretary Manoj Joshi said on Tuesday.

Conference Agenda and Key Discussions

Addressing reporters on the conference proceedings, Joshi explained, "On the first day of the conference, there will be a roundtable meeting between the Health Minister and industry leaders, followed by various sessions. A major point of discussion in all these sessions will be the discovery ecosystem, clinical trials, and our regulatory system--specifically, how to make the CDSCO processes faster and easier."

A Renewed Focus on Innovation and Biologicals

Turning towards the national budget, he said, "Whether you look at the national budget or this upcoming conference, the core focus is on innovation, discovery, and development. On 13-14 April, the Department, in collaboration with FICCI, is organising a Pharma Conference. The focus is on innovation, discovery, and development--particularly biological drugs. The government aims to strengthen the ecosystem for drug discovery by bringing together academia, research institutions, industry, and start-ups."

Joshi added, "In the budget, the Finance Minister placed special emphasis on biological drugs. Similarly, our joint conference with FICCI will focus on discovery and development, particularly in the field of biological drugs. We are exploring how the government, academic institutions, research organisations, and the industry can collaborate to strengthen our discovery and development ecosystem," highlighting the emphasis on biological drugs.

From Local Manufacturing to Global Innovation

On the global reach of India's drug innovation, he pointed out, "The goal is to increase the discovery of biological and chemical drugs within India and conduct their clinical trials here, allowing us to provide newly discovered medicines not just to India, but to the entire world."

Shifting from Generics to Innovative Drugs

Joshi also noted the shift from generics to innovative drugs, saying, "Historically, the Indian pharmaceutical industry has focused largely on generic drugs. However, generic drugs typically have lower profit margins. In contrast, newly discovered drugs offer a monopoly and exclusivity, tapping into a massive global market with much higher value addition and profitability. Therefore, the collective focus of the Indian government, the industry, and academia is to strengthen the drug discovery ecosystem by supporting the involved start-ups, laboratories, and large corporations."

Streamlining Regulatory Processes

On regulatory efficiency, he adds, "The aim is to reduce the time it takes for a drug to move from the discovery phase to the market. In today's competitive world, the faster a drug reaches the market, the greater the benefit. For the past year, the Indian industry has been in dialogue with the government, both directly and through various associations, to find ways to accelerate and simplify the regulatory system and to secure government support for industry-academic partnerships to bolster our start-up ecosystem." (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)