“In this age of product-process patent and intellectual property rights, discovery of new drugs holds significance. Moreover, a social environment, under which the firms follow the rule at their own, should also be created. If this is not done, it will make way for the rise of holistic healthcare culture in India too,” said Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In a bid to escape from price controls fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), several industry majors are marketing drugs as food and nutrition supplements, says the regulator which has moved the Health Ministry to curb the practice.

Piramal Healthcare, India's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company by revenue, has seen its contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) business fare badly in the past year or so. Going by the company's guidance, revenues from the segment, which accounted for about a quarter of its revenues in the first half of this fiscal, could decline through the full fiscal year.

German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) has started discussions with Cipla for a drug supply agreement that could see the Indian company supply generic drugs to the $17-billion German company for two of its drugs, including one of its best sellers. The Indian company is also discussing similar deals with other global pharma majors, said two persons familiar with the matter.