A quiet revolution is underway in India’s biotechnology sector, led by young entrepreneurs who are driving transformative health innovations. Arjun Arunachalam, founder of Voxel Grids Innovations Private Ltd in Bangalore, developed India’s first indigenously manufactured MRI scanner that matches global standards at a fraction of the cost of imported machines. These lightweight, energy-efficient scanners are already in use in cancer hospitals in Mumbai and Assam, making advanced diagnostics more accessible to the 90 percent of Indians who previously lacked access. Similarly, Jatin Vimal of Levim Lifetech Pvt Ltd produces Liraglutide, a biosimilar drug for Type 2 diabetes, costing one-third of the imported version. This biosimilar, India’s first, demonstrates the complexity of biologics compared to traditional chemical-based drugs, highlighting the leap in technological capability.
Beyond diagnostics and therapeutics, private ventures are creating new antibiotics, vaccines for dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, as well as the world’s first Hepatitis E vaccine. India has also achieved indigenous development of its first cell therapies for acute lymphoma and is advancing research in endoscopes, heart valves, dental and bone implants, and stem cell therapies for foot ulcers. These breakthroughs have been catalyzed by India’s National Biopharma Mission (NBM), supported by the World Bank-funded Innovate in India for Inclusiveness (i3) Project. According to Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of BIRAC, the mission bridges discovery and delivery, advancing affordable therapies while creating a resilient, globally credible biopharma sector.
The mission prioritizes industry-academia collaboration to foster innovation. Scientific Advisory Groups, composed of universities, researchers, businesses, and government agencies, guide research approval and ensure alignment with public health needs. Startups, historically underfunded and unsupported, now benefit from the mission’s financial assistance, technical guidance, regulatory support, and infrastructure. Since 2014, nearly 10,000 bio-based startups have emerged in India, many supported directly or indirectly by NBM. BIRAC has established about 100 incubation centers and 25 specialized research and pilot-scale biomanufacturing facilities, providing shared lab access, mentorship, and networking opportunities to accelerate market-ready innovations.
Funding from the mission has enabled entrepreneurs like Arjun Arunachalam to move from concept to production, while protecting intellectual property rights through training and the establishment of seven Regional Technology Transfer Offices. Over 850 IP filings and nearly 120 technology transfers have been facilitated, creating a skilled workforce capable of advancing biopharma innovation. The mission also supports clinical trial infrastructure, with over 30 hospital and 10 field sites managing a volunteer database of around 800,000 people, enabling more than 100 high-quality clinical trials in areas such as cancer, rheumatology, diabetes, and ophthalmology.
One of NBM’s landmark achievements includes funding the development of ZyCoV-D, the world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, by Zydus Cadila. The mission is also supporting Bharat Biotech’s chikungunya vaccine, the first of its kind developed and tested in India, with potential for domestic and international markets. Funding, technical guidance, and regulatory support from the mission have been crucial to advancing these vaccines efficiently and affordably.
India’s National Biopharma Mission has laid the foundation for a thriving biopharma ecosystem by nurturing talent, supporting startups, and creating infrastructure for research, development, and commercialization. Entrepreneurs and scientists, like Arjun Arunachalam, emphasize the importance of an enabling environment where talent from diverse backgrounds can flourish. With sustained public and private investment, supportive regulations, and continued ecosystem development, India is poised to become a global biopharmaceutical powerhouse, delivering innovative healthcare solutions both domestically and internationally.
