

The year Indian drug innovation bets started paying off
Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected].In July 2025, Mumbai-headquartered Glenmark grabbed the spotlight when it signed what was one of the biggest out-licensing deals for an Indian drugmaker with Chicago-based Abbvie Inc.
for an under-development cancer drug. The firm’s US-based unit, Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, signed a $700 million exclusive licensing agreement for its drug candidate to treat a rare blood cancer.“We were always resilient in how we approached innovation.
I think that's what finally rewarded us," a triumphant Glenn Saldanha, the firm’s managing director and CEO, had told Mint in an interview following the announcement.Glenmark’s story is not the only one. Indian drugmakers, known for their chemistry and prowess in making generics—cheaper copies of innovative drugs—for the world, have noted that the next step is to pivot towards innovation if they want to remain competitive globally.
Some, who took early bets (and have faced the ire of investors and shareholders), finally saw commercial success in 2025.“This was a year where innovation moved from pipeline slides to balance sheets,” independent pharma analyst Salil Kallianpur told Mint. “In fact, 2025 does stand out, but not because Indian pharma suddenly transformed into a discovery powerhouse.
Read on livemint.com