Obesity treatment drugs to be new growth engine for pharma industry, says Sun Pharma

New Delhi: Improving access to new age medicines for obesity and diabetes over the next few years would be a key enabler for the growth of the domestic pharmaceutical industry, according to Sun Pharma Managing Director Kirti Ganorkar.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are drugs that treat type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, and obesity by regulating insulin production.

India, known for its generic drug industry, is rapidly transforming into a major hub for the global weight management industry, amid rapid increase in obesity-led disease burden.

"Improving access to GLP-1 treatments in the coming years will be a key driver for the Indian pharmaceutical industry, helping address the growing burden of lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes," Ganorkar said.

Combined with AI-enabled digital tools for early disease detection and monitoring, and personalised medicine choices, the industry will continue to drive innovation that supports accessibility, affordability, and better outcomes for patients, he added.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories Chairman Satish Reddy stated that making risk capital more accessible can enable India to move from being the world's pharmacy to becoming the world's hub for pharmaceutical innovation.

Reddy stated that as India steps into 2026, with innovation emerging as the defining force for the next phase of growth, the outlook for the sector looks positive.

The emphasis will continue to be on building scientific excellence, regulatory agility, and collaborative innovation, reinforcing India's position as a trusted global partner, he added.

"Additionally, the pharmaceutical sector has a key role to play in attaining our vision of 'Viksit Bharat' with its own ambition of becoming a USD 500 billion industry by 2047," Reddy stated.

Despite external pressures, the sector has remained steadfast in advancing healthcare frontiers, delivering life-saving medicines across the globe, he stated.