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Journalist - Indian pharma & healthcare. Views own
vikas.dandekar@timesofindia.com
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Articles by Vikas Dandekar
'Liquid Biopsy can Significantly Ease Financial Burden for Cancer Patients'
Diagnostics 4 min read Liquid biopsy, a blood-based test that detects and analyses cancer-related biomarkers, is gaining ground as a tool to monitor disease progression and guide treatment decisions. Scientists Catherine Alix-Panabieres and Klaus Pantel, who coined the term in 2010, spoke to ET about its growing role in cancer care, the potential to reduce treatment costs through personalised medicine, and the need for more clinical trials to establish its benefits for patients.
'Liquid Biopsy can Significantly Ease Financial Burden for Cancer Patients'
Climate 16 hours ago It cost $30 billion, slowed Earth's rotation and even changed the planet's rotational axis – AND it unleashed an ecological disaster discoverwildlife.com - Fergus Collins • 16h It's one of the largest engineering projects the planet has ever seen, damming Asia's greatest river, the Yangtze, to produce more electricity than … Tinnitus 18 hours ago Scientists Identified a Biological Signature of Tinnitus, And It's in Your Blood ScienceAlert - Peter Dockrill • 18h For the...
US FDA Flags Data Integrity Lapses, Poor Conditions at India Drug Units
Eight years after FDA issued guidelines on data integrity, its inspectors continue to find violations that require the affected studies or tests to be repeated for reliable data, Constance Richard-Math, the agency's deputy country director in India, told an industry gathering in Mumbai Mumbai: The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) continues to find serious data-integrity violations at Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and clinical research organisations, making information...
India’s medicine sales grow in double digits for four straight quarters, led by chronic care drugs
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) ordered the shutdown of several hundred non-compliant small and medium-scale units over the last two years, and their sales may have shifted to larger players, industry experts explained, noting that PharmaTrac, a prescription sales tracking agency, does not audit small and medium units.
After obesity, Eli Lilly is set for a big neurosciences push
Eli Lilly global CEO Dave Ricks told ET during his recent visit that the acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals (for about $7.8 billion) earlier this year has opened up opportunities in a portfolio of drugs to treat sleep-wake cycle disorders. Mumbai: Blockbuster weight-loss and anti-diabetes drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) have catapulted US-headquartered Eli Lilly into the elite league of companies with a market capitalisation of more than $1 trillion.
The burden of cancer drugs: Millions battle exorbitant prices as life-saving treatment slips out of reach
Mumbai:"Six months ago, Surekha Panicker (name changed), a 65-year-old retired professional from Kerala, stared at her diagnosis in shock-stage-2 breast cancer. She had no family and limited savings. She went to an oncologist at a leading private hospital to figure out a treatment plan. They decided on immunotherapy, particularly Roche's Injection Phesgo, which would cost ₹5 lakh for the first loading dose of a 1,200 mg vial and over ₹2 lakh for subsequent doses.
Roche calls for global healthcare overhaul to tackle disease burden
Roche highlights the urgent need for a transformation in global healthcare to effectively tackle chronic diseases. Jorg Rupp pointed out that existing healthcare infrastructures are largely reactive, falling short in proactively addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases. This burgeoning issue not only challenges health systems but also imposes heavy financial demands. Governments must begin viewing healthcare as a crucial investment aimed at enhancing health outcomes.
'Indian Pharma's Risk Aversion Holding Back Innovation'
Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calls for greater use of digital technology to speed up drug development, as industry leaders push for a shift beyond generics New Delhi: Indian pharmaceutical industry's aversion to taking risks poses a major hurdle for innovation and that needs to change with the use of technology, according to Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
India has biotech talent and know-how, but funding ecosystem lags: Lilly CEO
India has biotech talent and know-how, but funding ecosystem lags: Lilly CEO India has biotech talent and know-how, but funding ecosystem lags: Lilly CEO By & , ET BureauLast Updated: Oct 02, 2026, 05:30:00 AM IST Follow us Font Size Eli Lilly intends to innovate in the weight-loss market, launching up to four new products in the coming years. The success of Mounjaro and Zepbound significantly boosted the company's sales and market value.
‘India’s biotech ecosystem holds tremendous promise’: Eli Lilly CEO
On the back of a global boom in anti-obesity drugs and its blockbuster formulations such as Mounjaro, Eli Lilly has seen its market capitalisation surge five times in six years, and is now the only pharma giant with more than $1 trillion in market cap. Chairman and CEO David A Ricks told Vikas Dandekar and Sruthijith KK in an interview that the company plans to remain the market leader in the anti-obesity drugs market with the help of innovation.
Drug Makers Refuse to Bear Responsibility of Overpricing
The Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) raised concerns that exempting downstream sellers entirely could open the door to disputes and pressure tactics against manufacturers. New Delhi | Mumbai: The Indian pharmaceutical industry, cutting across size, has opposed a regulatory proposal that holds them accountable for overpricing of medicines while exempting retail chemists, hospitals and nursing homes from prosecution and punitive action.
In private healthcare's rise, price points are a big pain
The panel, while acknowledging the wide variation in hospital charges across the country, stressed the need for better public health infrastructure, capping fees, and strengthening the cadre of medical specialists. The report, in short, captures the mood of millions of Indians who often face financial distress for treatment at quality private healthcare, which has emerged as a crucial industry over the decades as the state-aided facilities remained relative stragglers or inaccessible.
Thermo Fisher finds India the perfect lab; lab equipment maker steps up investments as drug companies focus on innovation
Mumbai: Thermo Fisher Scientific, the US-based maker of high-end lab equipment and automation systems, is accelerating investments in India, seeking to capitalise on sharpening focus of homegrown drugmakers on innovative medicines and growing demand for biosimilars. Top executives at Thermo Fisher told ET India has recorded the fastest growth in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region in the past year, and in the coming five years, the company is expecting double-digit returns from this market.
Doctors' Safety Alert Led to Sun Pharma Eye Drop Recall
The All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), a body of nearly 27,000 eye specialists, on June 19 informed its members that multiple ophthalmic institutions found contaminations consistent with pseudomonas species in some batches of the prescription medicine.
Doctors' safety alert led to Sun Pharma eye drop recall
Synopsis Sun Pharma recalled eleven eyecare products after an eye specialists' body issued a safety alert. This alert warned about bacterial contamination found in certain batches of their Predmet eyedrop medicine. The All India Ophthalmological Society stressed patient safety due to potential serious ocular infection risks. Sun Pharma stated the recall was a precautionary measure while investigations continued. The company assured that other products were manufactured at different qualified sites.
After Recall, Sun Pharma Lists its Safe-to-Use Eye-care Drugs
Mumbai: India's largest drug maker Sun Pharma has alerted medical experts that roughly 26 eye-care products sold in India were "not manufactured from the affected facility," following a nationwide voluntary recall of 11 ophthalmology products on July 17. The company did not disclose the name of the affected manufacturing site or share details of the issues that triggered the withdrawals.
Hospitals' Body Rejects Insurers' Advisory on Admissions for Fever
Insurance 2 min read The Association of Healthcare Providers (India) (AHPI), which represents more than 21,000 hospitals, said the advisory should be seen only as a guideline and warned it would oppose any attempt by insurers to use it to deny cashless approvals or reject claims.
Novo Nordisk Readies Once-Weekly Insulin Shot for Indian Market
India has approved Awiqli for adults with both Type 1 and 2 diabetes, broader than the current US approval, which is only for use in Type 2 diabetes patients. MumbaI: Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk is set to launch the world's first once-weekly insulin brand Awiqli ( insulin icodec) in India, making the country one of its earliest target markets.
Retatrutide: Can this shot make you lose weight & live longer, too?
Eli Lilly is studying retatrutide in several phase-3 clinical trials for obesity, type-2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis pain, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, chronic low back pain, cardiovascular and renal outcomes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease. Social media has been abuzz about retatrutide, a weight-loss drug that is in late clinical trials but is already being seen by medical experts as the next big leap in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
With sights on huge gains, Biocon to scale up AI focus
The company's planned AI scale-up in procurement and R&D will lead to significant cost saving as well as improve drug development timeline and also improve topline in the next 3-4 years, chief technology officer Mandar Ghatnekar told ET.
Koye Pharma next on Warburg's health play
Koye Pharma, specialising in women's health, respiratory care, and anti-diabetes drugs, has shown strong growth recently. Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Mumbai-based Koye Pharma for approximately ₹300 crore.
US-based Warburg Pincus in talks to buy Maneesh Pharma unit in Rs 1,800 crore deal
MumbaiUS-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus is in advanced discussions to acquire the formulations business of Mumbai-based Maneesh Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued around ₹1,600-1,800 crore, sources familiar with the matter told ET. Warburg has signed an exclusivity agreement with the company's promoters and is currently engaged in final negotiations to acquire its non-tuberculosis (non-TB) medicines portfolio.
USV Pharma leads race to buy 85% stake in Wellbeing Nutrition at Rs 1,600 crore valuation
'I don’t know what was it about us that rubbed people the wrong way,' she said of her marriage to the former Jonas Brother. If there’s one rumor …
At the launch of Lupin Founder D B Gupta’s biography, industry stalwarts reminisce the glorious past and reflect on the future of the Indian pharma industry
Mumbai: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, will be a day to remember for many who have been part of and followed the Indian pharma industry over the last three decades. Mumbai-based drug maker Lupin organized a mega launch of a biography of its legendary founder Desh Bandhu Gupta.
Sun Pharma looks to rise in US with $10 billion Organon buy
The transaction, likely to come with a $10 billion price tag inclusive of debt, will arguably be the most audacious takeover bid by Sun’s billionaire founder Dilip Shanghvi, 70, known for his astute deal making. A successful transaction will also make it the largest cross-border acquisition in the Indian pharmaceutical space and give Sun significant heft in the US. One of the persons cited said a deal would be “transformative” for Sun.
Delhi HC seeks govt reply on plea against online diagnostic services
Mumbai:The Delhi High Court has said the Union health ministry must respond by January 20 to a contempt petition filed by a health activist against the diagnostic services offered by online aggregators such as Amazon and others. Lawyers representing Rohit Jain, who is a pathologist and RTI activist, said the "illegal health services" are operating in Delhi in violation of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and other applicable laws.
Jupiter Hospital, Reliance-backed co in race for Mumbai SevenHills
Mumbai: A Reliance Industries-backed company and Jupiter Hospital are in the fray to acquire the unlisted SevenHills Healthcare, people with knowledge of the matter told ET.
Bristol Myers lines up many launches for India with 'AI' speed
Synopsis Bristol Myers Squibb sees India as a major growth driver. The company is investing heavily in AI to speed up drug launches and improve doctor engagement. New medicines for heart conditions and cancer are coming to India. This strategic move aims to boost sales and prepare for patent expirations. India is becoming a hub for AI innovation for the company.
Bharat Biotech, Biofabri in tech transfer deal for TB vaccine
MUMBAI: Biofabri, a global human vaccine development company, and Hyderabad-based vaccines maker Bharat Biotech have signed a technology transfer agreement for the development of a novel vaccine candidate against tuberculosis. "The agreement represents a significant milestone in advancing global efforts to expand equitable access to tuberculosis vaccines in line with World Health Organization (WHO) priorities," Bharat Biotech said in a statement.
Regulatory Agility a Key Bottleneck for India’s Biotech Ambitions: Dr Raches Ella
Regulatory Agility a Key Bottleneck for India’s Biotech Ambitions: Dr Raches Ella India's biotech sector faces regulatory hurdles. Dr. Raches Ella, Chief Development Officer, Bharat Biotech calls for a single-window system to speed up approvals. The future of medicine lies in biology, not chemistry. India's talent and lower costs position it well for innovation. Vaccines and antimicrobial resistance are key areas for future development.
Reliance Industries to Revolutionize Genomic Diagnostics with Low-Cost Tests, ETHealthworld
Diagnostics 2 min read The energy-to-retail conglomerate is leveraging Strand Life Sciences for its entry into the emerging areas of specialised healthcare diagnostics and genomic sciences. Reliance had acquired the Bengaluru-based company for ₹393 crore in 2021. Mumbai: Reliance Industries is pursuing another market-disrupting venture-offering genomic tests below ₹1,000, a nearly tenfold drop from the prevailing basic rates of around ₹10,000.
RIL Plans Foray Into Genomic Diagnostics
Techie Loses Job At 35, Shares 'Scary' Reality: 'No Savings, Two Kids' The laid-off techie explained that he had no savings, and the prospect of looking after two children and a wife was weighing heavily on him. A …
Reliance eyes Jio-style disruption in genomics with sub-Rs 1,000 tests
Mumbai: Reliance Industries is pursuing another market-disrupting venture-offering genomic tests below ₹1,000, a nearly tenfold drop from the prevailing basic rates of around ₹10,000. The energy-to-retail conglomerate is leveraging Strand Life Sciences for its entry into the emerging areas of specialised healthcare diagnostics and genomic sciences. Reliance had acquired the Bengaluru-based company for ₹393 crore in 2021.
India's Healthcare Sector Set for ₹20,000 Crore IPO Boom in 2026, ETHealthworld Original
Hospitals 2 min read Many large groups, IVF platforms file draft papers; Others prepare to queue up Mumbai: India's primary market is set for a heavy infusion of healthcare companies, including several in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) chains, next year, with public issues worth about ₹20,000 crore expected to hit the Street. According to investment bankers, a mix of large hospital groups and rapidly growing IVF platforms have either filed draft papers or are close to doing so.
Biocon's Strategic Merger with Biocon Biologics Valued at $5.5 Billion, ETPharma
Mumbai: Biocon will fully integrate Biocon Biologics as a wholly owned subsidiary in a transaction valuing the biosimilar business at $5.5 billion, as it was the most value-accretive option after “the markets took the Viatris acquisition negatively,” executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told ET on Saturday.
ET Exclusive | Biologics merger with Biocon most value-accretive option: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Biocon will fully integrate Biocon Biologics as a wholly owned subsidiary in a transaction valuing the biosimilar business at $5.5 billion, as it was the most value-accretive option after “the markets took the Viatris acquisition negatively,” executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told ET on Saturday.
GSK India plans big 'reinvention', MD Bhushan Akshikar reveals
Synopsis GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals is planning a major comeback in India. The company aims to double its revenue to ₹8,000 crore within the next 4-5 years. This growth will be driven by a strategic shift towards specialty drugs in oncology and liver diseases. Adult vaccination is also a key focus area. Mumbai: Global biopharma major GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, best known in India for its blockbuster legacy brands Augmentin and Calpol, is charting a bold comeback in the country.
Ministries split on drug data exclusivity Original
Mumbai|New Delhi: The commerce ministry and the ministry of health are in extensive deliberations over the issue of inclusion of data exclusivity or protection provisions in the proposed drug regulatory and legal framework, senior industry officials told ET. The matter has gained prominence in the last few weeks amid extensive lobbying by domestic drug industry groups, civil society, patient advocacy groups, and pharma multinationals.
Lupin, TPG Cap & EQT Take a Shot at Vitabiotics’ Buyout
Indian drugmaker Lupin and a clutch of private equity investors including EQT Partners and TPG Capital are in separate early-stage discussions to acquire UK’s largest nutraceutical company, Vitabiotics, people aware of the development said. The potential deal is expected to value the Lalvani family-owned business at around £1 billion (₹11,800 crore). Lupin is in discussions with a couple of PE firms to form a consortium to bid for the asset, the people said.
Lupin Pharma, TPG Capital & EQT in talks to acquire Lalvani family-owned Vitabiotics
Synopsis Indian drugmaker Lupin and private equity firms are exploring the acquisition of UK's Vitabiotics. The deal is valued at approximately one billion pounds. Several Indian companies had previously considered the acquisition but stepped back due to valuation concerns. Vitabiotics' Indian arm, Meyer Vitabiotics, contributes significantly to its annual sales. The nutraceutical market in India is experiencing rapid growth.
Auto industry flags Mexico's plan for steep tariff hike; pharma firms also worried
New Delhi: India’s automobile manufacturers and auto component makers have conveyed their concerns to the government over Mexico’s plan to more than double tariffs on countries with which it does not have free trade agreements. Representatives from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Auto Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) met officials from the commerce ministry and the heavy industries ministry recently over the development.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Advocates Dual-Agency Model for Faster Drug Approvals in India, ETPharma
A note from Shaw to Niti Aayog, India’s apex public policy think tank, calls for a dual-agency model that bifurcates the examination and approval process for newly researched drugs and devices between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the premier medical research agency and the regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Meet Raj Mantena, a pharma titan hosting a star-studded Udaipur wedding for his daughter
Carney Says World Can Move on Without US, Stresses New Ties Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the world can make progress on a range of issues without the US, and that consensus reached at a Group of 20 …
Meet Raj Mantena, Who Did a Midas with PharmaTech
Jenny was there, and so was Justin. Also, Ranveer, Hrithik, Madhuri, Karan and Don Junior. If anyone hasn’t heard of Raj Ramalinga Mantena by now, they’ve been living under the proverbial rock. Over the past few days, the lavish wedding celebrations of the US-based billionaire pharmaceutical entrepreneur’s daughter in Udaipur have set social media alight. Mantena’s daughter Netra is tying the knot with Vamsi Gadiraju, a technology entrepreneur who cofounded startup Superorder in the US.
Biocon chief bats for dual-agency model to fast-track drug approvals
Synopsis Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw suggests a new drug approval system. The Indian Council of Medical Research would handle scientific reviews for new drugs and devices. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation would then grant final regulatory approval. This aims to speed up innovation and research in India's biotechnology sector.
Can India Revive Its Pharmaceutical Innovation? The Case for Viksit Bharat by 2047, ETPharma
Viksit Bharat by 2047! For a nation trudging through unprecedented geopolitical disruptions and one that carries the weight of nearly a fifth of the world, this is not a transient catchphrase. It is a clarion call for an orbital shift as a developed nation. Viksit Bharat sets India on an expedition to earn its rightful place on a coveted pedestal occupied for long by the US, Europe, Japan, Korea and now increasingly China.
Can India Revive Its Pharmaceutical Innovation? The Case for Viksit Bharat by 2047, ETPharma
Viksit Bharat by 2047! For a nation trudging through unprecedented geopolitical disruptions and one that carries the weight of nearly a fifth of the world, this is not a transient catchphrase. It is a clarion call for an orbital shift as a developed nation. Viksit Bharat sets India on an expedition to earn its rightful place on a coveted pedestal occupied for long by the US, Europe, Japan, Korea and now increasingly China.
India's air cargo sector thrives in a world of tariffs
Synopsis India's air cargo is booming with high-value exports like medicines and smartphones. Exporters now choose speed and reliability over cost. This shift is driven by global trade tensions and unpredictable tariffs. Pharma shipments, including vaccines and injectables, are moving by air for faster delivery. Electronics, especially smartphones, also see significant air cargo growth.
Import price floor on cards for critical pharma inputs
Synopsis India is setting a minimum import price for essential drug ingredients. This move aims to shield local manufacturers from cheap imports, particularly from China. The government is expanding this policy to include more raw materials. This initiative supports India's goal of becoming self-reliant in pharmaceutical production. The new rules will soon be announced.
Time has never been better for Pharma breakthroughs than today: Bayer executive Stefan Oelrich
Synopsis Bayer, the renowned pharmaceutical powerhouse from Germany, is implementing a tiered pricing strategy on a global scale to make medications more accessible. The CEO emphasizes the necessity of earning returns to justify research investments. As innovation ecosystems shift, particularly towards regions like China, Bayer is proactively adapting. German pharmaceutical giant Bayer plans to adopt a strong tiered pricing approach worldwide to make its drugs and therapies affordable.
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