India seeks a seat at the drug services table

For over a decade, China has been the preferred destination for US pharmaceutical companies looking to outsource drug development chemistry. Low labor costs, advanced infrastructure, and a wealth of skilled chemists all work to China’s advantage as a low-cost drug services hub. But amid rising geopolitical tensions between China and the US, India is positioning itself as the best alternative to China in the custom drug services market. Indian contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) say investing in infrastructure and training young chemists will attract Western pharma and biotechnology clients looking to extricate themselves from China. But others question whether Indian firms can stand on their own—given their dependence on China for certain services—and whether they can create brand reputations comparable to some of their European and Chinese counterparts. These questions aren’t deterring Indian companies. Sibaji Biswas, chief financial officer at Syngene International, one of India’s major drug services firms,