The CEO of Biocon’s biosimilars subsidiary has unexpectedly departed the role. Management stresses there is no disruption to its "strategic intent", but COVID-19 has "dampened" the arm’s push to reach its aspirational $1bn revenue target by 2022.

More than half a dozen generic rivaroxaban brands are now available in India, putting the heat on Bayer’s blockbuster anticoagulant Xarelto in the price-sensitive market. Many rival generics are priced over 50% lower than the innovator product.

Dr Reddy’s signals a sharp step up in ambitions at home, propelled by building leadership in 10 therapy segments and an “India-first” approach for specialty products. Uptick in the China business and the potential launch of a Russia-partnered COVID-19 vaccine were other aspects of the business discussed at JPM.