Mint Explainer: Can India become a global hub for biologic drugs? Here’s the plan

₹13,000 crore leap into the future of healthcare—shifting from mass-produced generics to cutting-edge “living medicines” grown from cells, alongside advanced chemicals.With blockbuster drug patents set to expire globally, Mint explains how the country plans to tap a $300 billion biologics opportunity.To handle the work of growing medicines from living cells, India plans to build three new national research institutes and upgrade seven existing ones, including major centres in Mohali, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.These centres will focus on training a specialized workforce to manage the high level of scientific skill required. Since making medicines from living organisms is much more difficult than a standard pill, this expertise is essential for everything from laboratory research to high-tech factory management and safety checks.India plans to set up 1,000 testing sites nationwide to rigorously evaluate safety and effectiveness.This is essential because biologics are fundamentally different from traditional drugs.

Instead of being chemically synthesized, they are “living medicines” grown inside cells such as bacteria or yeast. They are highly sensitive to conditions like heat and cannot be replicated exactly like standard generics.At the same time, a wave of patent expirations by 2030—including blockbuster drugs such as Keytruda and Opdivo (cancer), Stelara and Enbrel (autoimmune diseases), and Eliquis and Xarelto (cardiovascular)—opens the door for India to produce more affordable versions.