BioAsia 2026 Highlights India’s Expanding Role in Next-Generation Biologics

At BioAsia 2026, industry leaders emphasized India's growing role as a global manufacturing and innovation hub for next-generation biologics, including vaccines, RNA platforms, and cell and gene therapies. Experts highlighted India's robust manufacturing capabilities, skilled talent, and collaborative ecosystems as crucial for scaling advanced therapies. Discussions underscored the country's pivotal contributions to global immunization and its increasing adoption of cutting-edge biomanufacturing technologies, positioning it as a strategic partner in global healthcare innovation while also addressing patient access.

BioAsia 2026 showcased India's expanding influence as a global leader in next-generation biologics, transforming from a cost-efficient manufacturing base into a strategic partner for innovation. Industry experts highlighted India's unparalleled capacity to scale advanced therapies, from widespread vaccine production—where one in three children globally receives an Indian-made vaccine, as noted by Raches Ella of Bharat Biotech—to pioneering RNA platforms and complex cell and gene therapies. Jose Castillo of Quantoom Biosciences described India as an early adopter of cutting-edge biomanufacturing technology, reinforcing its commitment to industrializing innovation. The discussions emphasized the critical role of robust manufacturing ecosystems, skilled manpower, and international collaboration. Darrin Morrissey from NIBRT cited Ireland's success in biologics and revealed ongoing talks with the Telangana government for strategic partnerships, indicating growing global interest in India's ecosystem. Simpson V. Emmanuel of ImmunoACT highlighted India's capability in developing and commercializing CAR-T cell therapy, a complex undertaking requiring specialized infrastructure. While celebrating technological advancements, panelists like Sai Praveen Haranath of Apollo Health Axis and Madhuri Vusirikala of Actinium Pharmaceuticals stressed the urgent need to ensure patient access to these transformative therapies and explore underdeveloped areas like radioligand therapies. Overall, BioAsia 2026 reinforced that India’s integrated approach of combining large-scale manufacturing, scientific talent, supportive regulations, and international partnerships is shaping the future of global healthcare.