Catalyst for Biosimilars, Innovation: Pharma Majors Applaud Biopharma Shakti Push in Union Budget 2026

Industry leaders said the initiative, when read alongside the ₹1 lakh crore commitment announced in November 2025 for research, development and innovation, sends a strong signal of the government’s intent to position India as a global hub for biologics and biosimilars, especially as non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders become the dominant healthcare challenge.

Commenting on the Budget, Biocon said, “Biopharma SHAKTI with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore is a well-timed and much-needed step, especially when seen alongside the earlier ₹1 lakh crore commitment announced in November 2025, to research, development and innovation. Together, these measures clearly signal the government’s intent to strengthen Bharat’s biopharmaceutical capabilities and catalyse innovation-led growth. The acknowledgement that non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders are now the dominant healthcare challenge is important, as is the focus on complex therapies of biologics through affordable biosimilars as the new standards of care."

"Encouraging investment in advanced manufacturing, building global scale, and strengthening regulatory capacity through a dedicated scientific review cadre at CDSCO are all critical to meeting global benchmarks. Equally transformative is the emphasis on academic research, skill development, training and clinical infrastructure through new and upgraded NIPERs and accredited trial sites. These steps reinforce Atmanirbhar Bharat while positioning India as a credible global biopharma hub delivering affordable, high-quality complex therapies at scale. At Biocon we are fully ready to support India’s march to be a leader in biopharma.”

Focus on Biosimilars, Infrastructure and Regulatory Timelines

Ashok Nair, Managing Director, RPG Life Sciences, said the Biopharma Shakti programme provides a practical roadmap for scaling India’s biosimilar capabilities:

“Biopharma Shakti is a strong and timely signal that India wants to scale up capabilities in biosimilars and compete more confidently in global markets. The Budget proposes an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over the next five years to build the ecosystem for domestic production of biologics and biosimilars."

"What makes this announcement practical, not just aspirational, is the focus on enabling infrastructure - a biopharma-focused network with three new NIPERs, upgrades to seven existing NIPERs, a network of 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites, and strengthening the CDSCO to meet global standards and improve approval timelines."

"For RPG Life Sciences, the value will come from improved ecosystem readiness, especially clinical-trial output and predictable regulatory timelines. These enablers can potentially accelerate market entry and expand patient access, subject to effective and timely implementation.”

Boost to R&D, Manufacturing and Traditional Medicine

Arushi Jain, Director, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said the Budget creates a stable ecosystem for long-term investment and innovation:

“We see the Union Budget 2026 as a very encouraging step for the future of healthcare and biopharma in India. It creates the kind of stable, long-term ecosystem the industry needs to plan boldly and invest with confidence. With the Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti programme, stronger research, expanded clinical trial networks, and more robust regulatory systems, the budget clearly puts innovation and quality manufacturing at the heart of the national agenda.”

She also welcomed the emphasis on traditional medicine and regulatory strengthening, noting that it would support a more integrated healthcare manufacturing ecosystem.

Industry Sees Shift Towards Advanced Therapies

Sheetal Arora, Promoter & CEO, Mankind Pharma, said the Budget places biopharma at the centre of India’s next manufacturing phase:

“The Union Budget makes a clear and timely choice by placing biopharma at the centre of India’s next manufacturing wave, alongside other frontier sectors. As India’s disease burden shifts towards diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, and advanced NCD therapies gain wider adoption globally, the focus on biologics and biosimilars is both relevant and necessary. The Bio Pharma Shakti initiative recognises that longevity, quality of life, and affordability will define healthcare outcomes going forward.

"The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has reinforced the Viksit Bharat vision through a ₹10,000 crore commitment to build a strong domestic biopharma ecosystem, strengthen institutions, upgrade the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to global standards, and enable faster, predictable approvals. The full BCD exemption on 17 cancer drugs and targeted relief for rare diseases will further improve patient access while supporting innovation in high-need areas."

"Over the coming years, the alignment of these reforms with the evolving European Union–India trade framework will help Indian pharma move from scale to leadership, attract global investment, and strengthen India’s position as a trusted manufacturing and innovation partner in advanced therapies.”

Strengthening Supply Security and Domestic Production

Sanjiv Navangul, CEO, BSV (A Mankind Group Company), said the Budget gives long-term momentum to domestic biopharma manufacturing:

“The Union Budget 2026 provides much-deserved momentum for India’s biopharma journey. We welcome the government’s intent to strengthen the biopharma ecosystem, and the Biopharma Shakti initiative is an encouraging step in this direction. The focus on building scale across strategic and frontier sectors creates the right environment for long-term improvements in health outcomes.”

“Further, the proposed investment of Rs 10,000 crore over five years, along with the emphasis on domestic production, will go a long way in strengthening supply security and reducing dependence on imports.”

Long-Term Vision for Lifesciences Leadership

Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, said the Budget addresses key pillars of accessibility and patient-centricity:

“The thrust on Lifesciences is a welcome step as the Indian Lifesciences Sector looks at building capabilities for leadership and growth in the future. The Biopharma Shakti programme heralds a long-term vision that can catapult India to the next orbit of growth. The focus on upgrading NIPERs and strengthening the talent pipeline, benchmarking regulatory infrastructure to global standards, creating a network of over a thousand accredited India Clinical Trials Sites, are all steps in the right direction. Exempting 17 cancer drugs and 7 rare disease drugs from customs duty will greatly improve patient access. The budget 2026 has touched upon the important pillars of accessibility, affordability and patient-centricity that are an urgent need.”