As the COVID-19 pandemic continued in 2021, the off-patent industry stepped in to provide relief in a variety of ways, whether through securing supplies of essential medicines or helping to manufacture and distribute newly-developed treatments.

India saw a raft of vaccine and drug approvals in 2021, backed by pandemic-related accelerated regulatory processes, and outlined its intent to step up biopharma innovation in the country.  Pharma wants some of the regulatory flexibility to stay, though experts are seeking increased transparency in the overall approach.

The vaccines segment continues to draw the interest of participants beyond those firms with a traditional core presence, with new players largely building partnered capabilities around COVID-19 inoculations. Are these merely opportunistic forays or will the competitive landscape for vaccines stand altered more widely?

Executive vice chairperson of Cipla Samina Hamied talks to Generics Bulletin about the company’s intention to become global lung leaders on the back of biosimilars opportunities and its inhalation assets. As well as discussing Cipla’s three-year strategy, Hamied – who is also the vice president of IPA – discusses creating a favorable regulatory and policy landscape in India.