The first panel discussion at Ahmedabad Pharma Summit 2025 was on ‘Next-gen Pharma Innovation.’ The session delved into the cutting-edge trends and technologies shaping the future of the pharma landscape.
Moderated by Naresh Gaur, EVP – Operations at Stallion Laboratories, the panel featured a distinguished lineup of experts: Dr Vaibhav Dubey, General Manager, Kashiv Biosciences; Yogesh Joshi, Head – Formulation Development CDMO and Head – Clinical Manufacturing Operations, Piramal Pharma Solutions; Dr Kiran Marthak, Director – Medical Affairs, Phase-1 and Regulatory Affairs, Veeda Lifesciences; Hiren Shah, General Manager – Packaging Development, Cadila Pharmaceuticals; and Ashwani Verma, Senior General Manager – Operations, Intas Pharmaceuticals.
The panelists stated that strategic investments in innovation, particularly in areas like drug discovery and development is key for the growth of India’s pharma sector. They agreed that holistic pharma innovation, encompassing R&D, manufacturing, packaging, clinical operations, and regulatory processes, will be vital.
The conversation veered towards technology transformation. Panelists highlighted how digitalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining pharma operations. These technologies are enhancing product quality and ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory standards. They also speed up the drug development process, thus bringing critical therapies to market faster.
The discussion also spotlighted biologics as a major area of innovation.Panelists pointed out the need for cost- effective biologic therapies that can improve patient outcomes. They stressed that innovation in biologics manufacturing and delivery technologies can enhance accessibility and affordability, particularly in emerging markets.
An important takeaway was the role of incremental innovation. Panelists observed that simple, thoughtful changes—such as digitising medical leaflets to reduce paper usage and packaging costs—can lead to significant operational efficiencies and sustainability benefits.
Panelists underlined the necessity for pharma companies to embrace digital tools that enhance transparency, traceability, and agility in a VUCA world. Investing in robust digital compliance solutions will be crucial to stay competitive and navigate complex regulatory challenges.
Throughout the session, a recurring theme was the importance of patient-centric innovation. Enhancing accessibility, affordability, and patient experience was identified as the key goal. The experts accentuated that innovations must align with patient needs to truly transform healthcare delivery.
The panel concluded that the future of pharma innovation lies in a balanced approach: embracing advanced technologies, investing in biologics, encouraging incremental changes, and keeping the patient at the center of every innovation.