Pharmaceutical

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) has firmly defended the integrity and safety of COVID-19 vaccines following remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggesting a possible link between vaccinations and heart-related deaths in Hassan district. In a strongly worded statement, IPA emphasized that these vaccines were rigorously tested and cleared under established regulatory frameworks and played a crucial role in mitigating the pandemic’s impact.

Pharmaceutical giant Lupin Ltd has announced the launch of its Ipratropium Bromide nasal spray in the U.S. market, offering two strengths—0.03% and 0.06%—to treat runny nose symptoms linked to allergic and nonallergic rhinitis as well as the common cold. The formulations are bioequivalent to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Atrovent nasal spray, which reported annual sales of approximately USD 63 million as of May 2025.

In a strategic move marking its growing global footprint in biologics, Biocon Biologics Ltd, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, has received marketing authorization from the European Commission for Vevzuo and Evfraxy, two biosimilar versions of Denosumab. These biosimilars, used in the treatment and prevention of various bone-related conditions, represent Biocon’s foray into the bone health therapeutic segment and underscore its scientific depth in complex biologics.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire a controlling stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals in a transaction valued at Rs. 19,500 crore—marking the second-largest merger in India’s pharmaceutical industry after Sun Pharma’s acquisition of Ranbaxy in 2015. The multi-phase deal includes promoter and employee share purchases, followed by an open market offer, and culminates in a merger of JB Pharma into Torrent.

In one of India’s largest pharmaceutical mergers, Torrent Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at Rs. 19,500 crore. The transaction, which includes promoter and employee stake purchases followed by a mandatory open offer, will propel Torrent to the position of India’s second most-valued pharmaceutical company.

Mumbai-based pharmaceutical giant Lupin Ltd has received a crucial regulatory nod from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its generic version of Prucalopride tablets, designed for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. The approval covers two dosage strengths—1 mg and 2 mg—and positions Lupin to compete in a U.S. market segment estimated at $184 million annually, according to IQVIA MAT data for April 2025.

Vadodara-headquartered Sudeep Pharma has initiated steps toward entering India’s capital markets, filing its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The proposed initial public offering (IPO) will consist of a fresh issue worth ₹95 crore alongside an offer for sale (OFS) of over 1 crore shares by the promoter group.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of Tevimbra in India, marking its entry into the fast-growing field of immuno-oncology. Approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Tevimbra is indicated for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Originally developed by global biotech leader BeiGene (now BeOne Medicines), Tevimbra has already been approved in the U.S., EU, China, and Australia.

Three companies—GNG Electronics (parent of Electronics Bazaar), logistics firm Glottis, and pharmaceutical manufacturer Amanta Healthcare—have received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with their initial public offerings (IPOs). These approvals, issued between June 16 and 20, clear the path for each firm to tap public capital markets with unique offerings tailored to their industry needs.

In a significant step toward combating India's growing obesity epidemic, Danish pharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk has launched its globally acclaimed anti-obesity drug Wegovy in India. The drug, which contains semaglutide as its active ingredient, is indicated for chronic weight management and the reduction of major cardiovascular risks in overweight and obese adults. Offered in five dose strengths through a once-weekly injectable pen device, Wegovy is priced between Rs. 17,345 and Rs. 26,050 per month.