Hyderabad, Feb 17 (TNT): AI-native R&D and connected manufacturing systems are set to reshape the future of global and Indian biopharma, according to a latest report, “Pharma’s New Architecture: Where Novel Science Meets AI and Manufacturing Power,” released by EY-Parthenon India at the ongoing BioAsia 2026 here on Tuesday.
The report stated that the industry is moving beyond incremental product development toward platform-led innovation models that integrate discovery science, AI-enabled research, advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains into unified systems.
According to the report, rising scientific complexity is prompting companies to redesign R&D around reusable platform models instead of building each medicine as a standalone program.
Leading players are creating shared discovery engines that apply common data sets, workflows and development pathways across multiple assets.
This approach reduces duplication, compounds institutional learning and improves execution predictability. Progress increasingly depends on integrated systems that move assets from early research to clinical testing with speed and discipline.
Suresh Subramanian, National Lifesciences Leader, EY-Parthenon India, said, “Indian biopharma is undergoing a structural reset. Scientific breakthroughs alone are no longer sufficient. The winners will be those who integrate discovery, AI-native intelligence and manufacturing into disciplined, repeatable platforms. The shift from one-off products to reusable engines — from mRNA and CRISPR to AI-driven design stacks — is redefining speed, reliability and scale. This will enable India to pivot toward large molecules and new modalities, where future opportunities will emerge.”
Daniel Mathews, EY Global Life Sciences Leader, said, “India stands at a decisive inflection point. With strong digital capabilities, biologics capacity and integrated CRDMO infrastructure, the country can move beyond being the pharmacy of the world. By connecting these strengths into platform-led models, India can emerge as a global innovation and execution hub for next-generation therapies.”
Shakthi Nagappan, CEO, Telangana Lifesciences, said, “The life sciences sector is being reshaped by deeper integration of biology and digital technologies. As research becomes more data-intensive, AI and advanced analytics are accelerating insights while maintaining scientific rigor. This shift extends beyond R&D into clinical development and manufacturing, creating more coordinated and resilient systems.”
The report highlighted that biologics now account for more than half of global prescription revenues and are projected to approach 60% by 2028. Advanced modalities — including antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, RNA therapies and cell and gene therapies — are driving value concentration despite scientific and regulatory complexity.
India is increasingly participating in this transition. With more than 100 approved biosimilars, expanding proprietary biologics programs and CRISPR innovation emerging from institutions such as CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, the country is shifting from volume-led generics toward platform-enabled innovation. Multimodality CRDMOs are also expanding into ADCs, peptides and oligonucleotides.
A central theme of the report is the emergence of the AI-native R&D stack — a layered architecture spanning scientific intelligence, generative design, digital twins, automated experimentation, real-world evidence integration and regulatory traceability.
Modern development models increasingly run discovery, CMC, clinical and regulatory workstreams in parallel rather than sequentially. AI-powered scientific copilots synthesize literature and multi-omics data rapidly, generative models design molecules prior to synthesis, and digital twins simulate biological and manufacturing scenarios before capital deployment, the report tated.
The report noted that speed in R&D now reflects faster and more informed decision-making enabled by connected data systems.
As biologics and advanced therapies expand, manufacturability is becoming integral to discovery strategy rather than a downstream consideration. Early integration of science, digital modeling and production planning improves quality consistency, reliability and cost control.
Supply continuity is also emerging as a design requirement. Advanced modalities depend on specialized inputs such as vectors, enzymes and high-potency payloads, making early diversification and coordination critical.
The report positions India at a structural inflection point, supported by policy signals including the Biopharma SHAKTI program announced in Budget 2026, strengthened clinical networks and ongoing regulatory modernization.
India’s pharma ecosystem includes over 900,000 professionals across research, engineering and manufacturing. Its CDMO market, estimated at approximately US$7.9 billion in 2024, is projected to nearly double by 2033. Additionally, 23 of the top 50 global life sciences companies operate global capability centers in India, embedding AI, clinical analytics and digital innovation into global pipelines.
The report concludes that the next phase of biopharma growth will depend less on isolated breakthroughs and more on ecosystem design.
Organizations that align discovery, AI, clinical evidence, manufacturing and supply into governed, platform-based systems will be better positioned to reduce avoidable failure, improve predictability and scale innovation sustainably.
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