In May 2017, the Government of India launched the National Biopharma Mission (NBM), an ambitious initiative under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to strengthen the biopharmaceutical sector.
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, this project was allocated a budget of Rs 1,500 crores over five years, funded equally by the Government and a World Bank loan.
Implemented by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the mission aimed to make affordable healthcare a reality for millions of Indians.
Five years later, has the mission delivered on its promises? We look at the progress made and the challenges ahead.
AMBITIOUS GOALS?
The National Biopharma Mission focused on two key goals: developing new products and creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation. It worked on a range of healthcare solutions, including vaccines, biosimilars, medical devices, and diagnostic tools, to reduce India’s reliance on imports.
Biosimilars are medicines made to work just like existing biological drugs but at a lower cost. For example, the mission supported the creation of liraglutide, a biosimilar used to manage diabetes, which was launched at just one-third of the price of its international version.
India’s biopharma sector has undoubtedly seen advancements. At an NBM success event in August 2024, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the country’s bio-economy growth, expanding 13-fold in a decade, from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024.
ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS
NBM focused on building infrastructure. “In the last five years, facilities for vaccine trials, manufacturing clinical batches, and developing diagnostic kits were established,” Dr Raj Shirumalla, Mission Director, National Biopharma Mission, told India Today Digital.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of such infrastructure, with NBM-supported labs contributing to Covid-19 testing and vaccine development.
However, questions linger. While the mission supported the production of over 25 lakh RT-PCR kits during the pandemic, critics point out that many rural areas still lack basic diagnostic facilities.
Several start-ups and small businesses were supported. It led to over 850 new intellectual property (IP) filings and 100 technology transfers. For the first time, seven Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) were set up across India to help turn research into real-world products.
Despite these achievements, the impact on ground-level healthcare access remains uneven. While high-end technologies like CAR-T therapy and next-generation MRI scanners were developed, their affordability and accessibility for average Indians are questionable.
For instance, the indigenously developed MRI scanner may reduce costs, but its penetration into smaller healthcare centres remains to be seen.
SUCCESS STORIES: LIRAGLUTIDE AND CORBEVAX
The development of biosimilars like liraglutide and indigenous Covid-19 vaccines like CORBEVAX have created milestones for NBM.
CORBEVAX became India’s first protein subunit vaccine for children aged five and above. Similarly, the liraglutide biosimilar, developed by Chennai-based Levim Biotech, is a cost-effective alternative for diabetes management.
While these innovations underscore the potential of public-private collaboration, they also highlight the mission’s narrow focus on select products.
Despite NBM’s achievements, many Indians still struggle to access affordable healthcare. While the mission reduced costs for certain biopharmaceutical products, its impact on rural and underserved areas remains limited.
Products like the first indigenous MRI scanner by Voxelgrids Innovations and advanced biotherapeutics are unlikely to benefit populations without adequate healthcare infrastructure.
For instance, indigenous diagnostic kits supported by NBM could potentially revolutionise healthcare in rural areas, but their availability in primary healthcare centres still needs to be improved.
Without robust distribution networks, such innovations risk being confined to urban centres.
LOOKING AHEAD
Dr Shirumalla highlighted the need for steady progress in biomanufacturing and research. Key priorities include developing vaccines for malaria and chikungunya, tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and setting up Bio-AI hubs and biomanufacturing centres to drive innovation.
However, success will depend on careful execution and ensuring these advances benefit marginalised communities.
A MISSION IN PROGRESS
The National Biopharma Mission has boosted India’s biopharma sector, supporting local vaccines, diagnostics, and start-ups. While it has built a strong foundation, achieving affordable healthcare for all remains a challenge.
Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, told India Today Digital that the mission’s focus is not just limited to supporting development of a specific new age therapeutic product, but “to strength the ecosystem to continuously churn out innovative and affordable medicines.”
To succeed, NBM must overcome gaps in healthcare delivery and ensure equal access to biopharma products, especially in rural areas. Its true impact will be measured not only by economic growth but also by its ability to improve lives nationwide.
