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Indian Biotech Leaders Call for Patient Capital, Policy Predictability
Indian biotech start-ups are trying to create new medicines.
This work can take many years and may fail, so companies need money that stays invested for a long time.
Speakers said India has investors, but much of the money currently supports established businesses rather than new ideas.
They also said universities and companies should work more closely together.
Government funding could help reduce the risk for private investors.
Clearer rules about regulation, patents, data and medicine prices could attract more investment.
Companies also want tax benefits and other support for research.
The panel discussed the ₹10,000-crore Biopharma Shakti programme.
Its goal should be to support research, testing and approval from beginning to end.
Industry leaders said Indian biotech start-ups need larger, longer-term capital to develop novel drugs.
Speakers called for stronger links among academia, investors, start-ups, regulators and pharmaceutical companies.
Investors said funding has favored mature life-science businesses, manufacturers and capacity expansion over early innovation.
Participants cited limited innovative-product demand, out-of-pocket spending and low insurance penetration as investment challenges.
The panel urged comprehensive support for the ₹10,000-crore Biopharma Shakti programme and greater regulatory predictability.
- Who
- Indian biotech, investment, pharmaceutical and policy leaders, including representatives of Zumutor Biologics, Eight Roads, OPPI, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
- What
- They called for patient capital, stronger research partnerships, government risk-sharing and more predictable policies to support novel drug development.
- Where
- At a CII Pharma and Life Sciences Summit in India.
- When
- The discussion was reported as published on September 20, 2026.
- Why
- Novel drug development requires longer timelines, larger investments and greater risk than many mature life-science businesses.
Key facts
- Main challenge
- A shortage of large, patient pools of capital for early-stage novel drug development.
- Investment pattern
- Capital has largely flowed to CRDMOs, large-scale manufacturers and capacity expansion.
- Market constraint
- Limited market potential for innovative products, out-of-pocket spending and constrained insurance penetration.
- Policy priorities
- Regulatory predictability, intellectual property, regulatory data protection, pricing and access.
- Funding proposal
- A pooled risk-capital model involving government, venture capital and industry.
- Government programme
- The ₹10,000-crore Biopharma Shakti programme.
- Proposed support
- Greater use of R&D tax incentives and CSR funding for pharmaceutical research.
Quotes
Dr Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues
Founder and CEO of Zumutor Biologics
“What we need to get more launches in wave one in India is clearly more predictability”
thehindubusinessline.com
“There is a deficit at the earlier stage where innovation is required.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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