Indian pharma firms renew focus; Dr Reddy's, Cipla eye $100-bn China market

DRL looking to introduce anti-cancer drugs, while Cipla, Wockhardt planning to launch core therapies

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) is expanding its presence in China, the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market, where other drug manufacturers such as Cipla and Lupin are exploring opportunities.

The more than $100-billion China market is dominated by local drug manufacturers and multinationals and India’s pharmaceutical exports of around $160 million are a fraction of the companies’ sales.

But recent changes in regulation allowing quicker product approval and growth opportunities in China have been drivers for Indian companies. 

According to The Pharma Letter website, China’s Food and Drug Administration recently decided to acknowledge foreign trial data and hire more people to speed up drug approvals