Grena, Correspondent, India Pharma Outloook
India’s pharmaceutical industry is one of the industry leaders in 2024, researching and developing new solutions for the world’s critical health issues. This year mainly focused on redefining patient care with advanced approaches such as AI-driven drug discovery and biosimilars, which are bound to make treatments more effective and reachable. Collaboration with global biopharmaceutical leaders has improved the development of new treatments, a sign of the growing impact of India on global health innovation. Recent breakthroughs include the approval of Abrocitinib for atopic dermatitis, the country’s first indigenous Macrolide antibiotic Nafithromycin, and the introduction of biosimilars all highlights the company’s commitment to diverse healthcare needs. Indian pharma strategic efforts not only make for millions of quality improvements but also make the nation an advanced center for medical research and innovation.
In India’s pharmaceutical industry, Nafithromycin, branded as Miqnaf, was launched in November 2024, marking the country’s first indigenously developed macrolide antibiotic. This revolutionizing drug, developed by Wockhardt with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, BIRAC, specially targeted at treating Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by resistant bacteria. Nafithromycin drug breaks a global threat of antimicrobial resistance. The development of Nafithromycin corresponds with the government’s strategy for encouraging self-reliance in healthcare and reducing the reliance on imported antibiotics.
This revolutionary antibiotic is ten times stronger than the current drugs, such as azithromycin, and provides a three-day treatment regimen, significantly reducing the recovery time while improving patient outcomes. It is especially made more effective against drug-resistant strains of bacteria, which have now become a challenge around the world. The drug has been developed to overcome the limitations of conventional macrolides, most of which fail to cure resistant infections. Nafithromycin’s launch has been considered a major leap toward dealing with an expanded global increase in antimicrobial resistance and is considered an innovative solution for India's health scenario.
Dr Rajesh Chawla, Senior Consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi says, “This development is crucial as pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly in developing countries. Antibiotic resistance has made many existing treatments, like Azithromycin, ineffective. So this antibiotic is a gamechanger.”
Abrocitinib is the first oral drug launched in India by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer in 2024, which led to the treatment of atopic dermatitis. It depicts the treatment for moderate and severe chronic conditions of the skin. As a Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor, it acts by interfering with roots that cause inflammation, itching, redness, and swelling. It is a convenient and effective oral alternative for patients, particularly those requiring systemic therapy, rather than the traditional topical treatments or injectable biologics.
Meenakshi Nevatia, Country President and Managing Director, Pfizer India says, "We believe in Abrocitinib’s transformative potential. Its approval is a milestone in bringing high?quality treatment for moderate?to?severe atopic dermatitis in India, enabling patients to manage symptoms more effectively. Our collaboration with Glenmark will help leverage the collective strengths and capabilities of our organisations to make this breakthrough therapy available to patients and physicians across our country.”
The launching of Abrocitinib in India reflects the increased emphasis on getting advanced therapies into the Indian pharmaceutical companies. Leverage with global leaders such as Pfizer allows bridging research with commercialization and bringing these innovative treatments directly to the patients. This innovation repeats the role of R&D in addressing the less researched dermatological condition which has the potential to influence the quality of life. The rapid relief in the symptoms and improved compliance give a new place in the management of atopic dermatitis in India.
Indian pharmaceutical R&D scaled a new milestone in the oncology segment with the strategic licensing agreement between Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Jiangsu Alphamab Biopharmaceuticals and 3D Medicines on the development, registration, and commercialization of Envafolimab, a world-class PD-L1 targeted monoclonal antibody on oncology indications across India and multiple international regions. Envafolimab is a new approach to cancer therapy. Unlike conventional therapy, this monoclonal antibody is distributed subcutaneously. This gives way to a more patient-friendly alternative for intravenous infusion. These methods improve patient convenience and reduce healthcare costs by avoiding extended hospital stays.
Glenn Saldanha, Chairman & Managing Director, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd said, "This is an important milestone for Glenmark, as through this transformational deal, we gain access to the first recombinant humanized single domain antibody against PD-L1 in a subcutaneous formulation for a wide territory globally. We are excited at the opportunity to take this innovative immuno-oncology product to cancer patients across the emerging markets and meaningfully contribute towards improving their access to potentially life-saving treatments.”
This collaboration underlines global partnerships in the development of oncology R&D. Glenmark's significant marketing capabilities, combined with the innovation expertise of Alphamab and 3D Medicines will enable it to bring life-saving therapies to patients across the globe. Indian pharmaceutical companies are turning more towards oncology research, as the burden of cancer is increasing not just in the country but also in the world. With Envafolimab and other similar advancements, India is indicating the possibility of its much stronger contributions to the cancer battlefield across the globe with innovative research and strategic collaborations.
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