PharmNXT Biotech.
As global demand for biologics rises, pharmaceutical manufacturing is undergoing a structural shift. Biologic drugs, including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and advanced therapies, are expected to account for nearly 35-40 percent of the global pharmaceuticals market by 2030, according to IQVIA. At the same time, rising costs in the United States and Europe, along with supply disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic, have accelerated the need for more diversified and resilient manufacturing ecosystems.
India is emerging as part of this transition. Known for supplying over 20 percent of the world's generic medicines by volume, & being the vaccine hub, the country is now expanding into more complex biologics manufacturing, supported by improving technical capabilities and cost advantages.
From Supply Shock to Domestic Capability
The pandemic highlighted a critical vulnerability. Indian vaccine manufacturers faced shortages of essential consumables such as single-use bioprocessing bags and tubing, as global suppliers prioritised domestic demand. The limitation was not production capacity, but dependence on imported inputs.
PharmNXT Biotech responded by building domestic manufacturing capability in this segment. Founded in 2017, the company established a 20,000 sq. ft expandable to 80,000 sq.ft cleanroom facility in Pune to produce key components such as bioprocessing bags, manifolds, assemblies mixing systems, filtration systems, inline buffer preparation technologies and the most sophisticated chromatography systems with advanced features used in biologics manufacturing.
"During Covid, we saw how supply constraints in critical consumables could directly impact production timelines. That is when we decided to build local capability at scale," says Ankush Kapur, Founder, PharmNXT
Single-use systems have since become central to modern biomanufacturing due to their efficiency and flexibility. They reduce contamination risk, improve turnaround times, and lower resource consumption, making them increasingly relevant for biologics production.
PharmNXT's strength lies in its role as an enabler within the biopharmaceutical value chain. By manufacturing single-use systems such as bioprocessing bags, mixing solutions, and filtration technologies, the company supports faster, more flexible, and contamination-free production of biologic drugs.
Cost Advantage to Global Play
Domestic manufacturing is also becoming central to the economics of biologics. The global biologics market is projected to grow from $421 billion in 2023 to over $730 billion by 2030, according to industry estimates. Strengthening local supply chains will be critical to ensuring this growth translates into more accessible therapies.
"Our focus has been on combining quality with cost efficiency so that manufacturers can scale without being constrained by input costs," says Sachin Joshi, Co-founder, PharmNXT
This advantage is increasingly translating into global opportunity. PharmNXT now supplies to markets including the United States, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, aligning its products with international regulatory and quality expectations.
Competing in a Shifting Global Landscape
India's role in global pharmaceutical supply chains is evolving from volume-driven manufacturing to capability-led participation. However, the bioprocessing consumables market remains highly competitive, with established multinational players holding significant market share. For emerging companies, consistent quality, regulatory compliance, long-term reliability and affordability will be critical to building global credibility.
Positioning for the Next Phase
Future growth in biologics is expected to be driven by advanced modalities such as cell and gene therapies, a segment projected to exceed $80 billion over the next decade, based on industry estimates. These therapies require more specialised and adaptable manufacturing systems.
"These systems are critical for scaling complex therapies, where precision, sterility, and turnaround time are essential. By offering locally manufactured, globally compliant alternatives, we are helping manufacturers improve operational efficiency while reducing supply-side dependencies," says Anurag Gupta, MD & CEO, PharmNXT
As global supply chains continue to diversify, companies that can deliver both cost efficiency and technical capability are likely to gain strategic relevance. PharmNXT's trajectory reflects this shift, positioning it within India's growing role in the global biomanufacturing landscape.
