India Generic Drugs Market Assessment, By Application, By Type, By Brand, By Route of Administration, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2018-FY2032F

India generic drugs market is projected to witness a CAGR of 8.29% during the forecast period FY2025-FY2032, growing from USD 13.71 billion in FY2024 to USD 25.94 billion in FY2032. The market's growth is supported by the introduction of supportive government policies and initiatives, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and rising investments by the key market players. The growing awareness about the various advantages associated with generic drugs is also propelling the demand for generic drugs in India. Generic drugs aid in addressing the healthcare requirements of the country's population by ensuring the availability of cost-effective treatments.

The growth of the market is also supported by novel drug launches by the key players of the market in the country. In January 2023, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. launched the generic version of palbociclib, Pfizer Inc.'s breast cancer medicine, in India. The entry of the generic version of the drug was possible after the expiration of the company's Indian patent on the product. This launch ensured the affordability of the drug in the country, aiding in improving patient accessibility and combating breast cancer, which is one of the most common forms of cancer in India. As per the estimates of the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO), India had approximately 98,337 female deaths related to breast cancer in 2022.

Additionally, the key market players are actively investing towards the development of complex generic drugs and increasingly focusing on research and development activities. The stringent regulations for generic drugs ensure the availability of effective therapeutic solutions while maintaining their affordability, which is essential for combating chronic and lifelong diseases in which the patient requires frequent doses of medications.

Rising Cases of Chronic Diseases Boosts Market Demand

The increasing incidence of various chronic diseases in the country, including diabetes, cancer, neurovascular diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, among others, are providing lucrative growth opportunities to the market. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 77 million individuals above the age of 18 in India suffer from type 2 diabetes, and 25 million are at a greater risk of developing diabetes. The rising cases of such diseases, coupled with changing lifestyles and the expansion of the aging population, are propelling the requirement for long-term medications that are cost-effective and are preferred by both healthcare providers and patients, supporting the India generic drugs market growth.

Increasing Government Initiatives Support Market Expansion

The increasing launch of supportive policies and initiatives to promote research and development activities in the pharmaceutical sector is boosting India's generic drugs market size. In September 2023, the National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector was launched to support the country's transformation into a high-value and volume player in the global pharmaceuticals industry. The policy aims to incentivize the domestic and global players to enhance production and investments in specific high-value products, including complex generic drugs, drugs nearing patent expiration, and biopharmaceuticals, among others. Such initiatives are expected to support the development of complex generic drugs and positively influence the market's expansion.

Cardiovascular Applications Hold Significant Market Share

The rising cases of cardiovascular diseases in the country are bolstering the India generic drugs market demand. According to an article published in Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health in February 2022, the self-reported prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in India was 29.4% for adults aged 45 and above. The increasing number of cases of cardiovascular diseases in the country can be attributed to a lack of physical activity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. This increase is propelling the requirement for generic versions of cardiovascular drugs as the generic substitutions are potentially important for both patients and the healthcare system due to their cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the substitution also improves the value of pharmaceutical spending.

Meanwhile, diabetology is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. The rising cases of diabetes in India can be attributed to the profound lifestyle and environmental changes witnessed by the population. These changes, including rising per capita spending, industrialization, booming culture of eating out, and migration to urban cities, are contributing to the increasing prevalence of diabetes.

Retail Pharmacies Account for Major Market Share

The strong presence of retail pharmacies in the country and the pharmacist's personalized consultation and recommendations are bolstering the segment's expansion. Additionally, these pharmacies provide a wide range of healthcare products and drugs at one location, which in turn enhances consumer convenience. Various retail pharmacy chains are rapidly growing in the country by providing such advantages to customers. For instance, in September 2022, Apollo Pharmacy announced the opening of its 5000th outlet in India.

Meanwhile, online pharmacies are expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the convenience, accessibility, and value-added services online pharmacies provide. They eliminate the requirement for physically visiting the store to pick up the medications, while providing overnight shipping and delivery, aiding patients in effectively managing their diseases.

Future Market Scenario (FY2025-FY2032F)

According to the India generic drugs market analysis, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years owing to the rapid expansion of the healthcare sector, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and disorders, and rising requirements for affordable healthcare solutions. As per the statistical analysis of incidence rates of cancer published in the Indian Journal of Public Health, the burden of cancer is estimated to rise to 2.98 million by 2025 in India. The ongoing investments in research and development and manufacturing activities and the introduction of supportive government policies are also expected to support the growth of the market over the forecast period. Additionally, the increasing focus of various key market players towards the introduction of generic drugs in the country is also supporting the market's expansion. Furthermore, the introduction of various technologies, including 3-D printing, to support the manufacturing of generic drugs is also propelling the share of generic medicines in the country's pharma industry.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The growth of the India generic drugs market is supported by the increasing investments by the key players of the market towards the launch of various generic drugs in India. In March 2024, the Zydus Group launched IBYRA, the generic version of Olaparib, which is a PARP inhibitor in India. The drug targets genetic mutations that are present in different cancer types, allowing for more effective and tailored treatment approaches. Cancer patients who have been diagnosed with BRACA and HRD-positive mutations are administered PARP inhibitors to delay the progression of the diseases. To ensure that the correct patient groups have access to IBYRA, Zydus collaborated with MedGenome Inc. for comprehensive HRD testing.