Bayer Expands Pharmaceutical Footprint in India Amid Regulatory Challenges

Bayer aims to strengthen its pharmaceutical presence in India by expanding its therapies portfolio and enhancing healthcare ecosystem collaborations. This move comes despite the complex regulatory environment in India that presents challenges such as delays in clinical trial approvals, IP protection issues, and pricing pressures. Bayer has launched several important therapies in India, such as Kerendia, Verquvo, and Nubeqa, and plans further growth in its local operations through a series of clinical trials. Bayer's strategy includes a tiered pricing system to improve drug accessibility in India. It is anticipated that the company's expansions will bolster India's pharmaceutical sales projections and contribute to a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% in Euro terms by 2029. However, India's clinical trials landscape presents hurdles owing to stringent regulations, insufficient resources, and protectionist IP policies. Despite reforms, drugmakers face pricing regulation challenges due to India's National List of Essential Medicines and Drug Price Control Order, further complicating the business environment.