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Ayurveda Eyes Global Growth: Learning from Indian Pharma's Success Story
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Firstpost•04-10-2026, 18:39
Ayurveda Eyes Global Growth: Learning from Indian Pharma's Success Story
- •India's pharmaceutical industry transformed from dependency to a global supplier, accounting for 20% of generic medicine volume and $30.5 billion in exports for 2024-25.
- •Indian pharma's success was built on developing capabilities in research, manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, not just cheap production.
- •The global market for botanical products is significant, with US herbal dietary supplement sales reaching $13.2 billion in 2024, indicating an opportunity for Ayurveda.
- •Ayurveda needs to build capabilities around its vast knowledge base, similar to how Indian pharma innovated around existing molecules, to succeed globally.
- •The Ashwagandha case highlights the need for innovation around traditional knowledge, focusing on extraction, standardization, research, and branding, rather than just patenting herbs.
Key Questions Answered
In 2001, Indian companies like Cipla challenged high treatment costs by offering affordable antiretroviral combinations, transforming the economics of access and working with initiatives to expand quality-assured treatments globally.
Indian experts argued that the Danish assessment relied heavily on preclinical, animal, and laboratory studies while ignoring human clinical research and traditional root-use history, prompting the Ministry of Ayush to commission a scientific counter-review.
Ingredient branding involves transforming a familiar herb into a proprietary, trademarked component with defined specifications, research programs, and brand identity so it can be integrated into various companies' products.
