THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
The government has
approved financial assistance of around ₹1,600 crore for 41 pharmaceutical and medical technology innovation
projects under the first round of the Promotion of Research and Innovation in
Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) scheme, in a move aimed at accelerating indigenous
R&D and attracting private investment.
The approved projects
are expected to catalyse an additional ₹3,020 crore in private investment, taking the cumulative
research and development investment across the portfolio to around ₹4,620
crore, according to the government.
The projects span the
innovation spectrum, from novel drug discovery and clinical development to
advanced medical technologies, reflecting a growing emphasis on shifting
India's pharmaceutical sector from a predominantly volume-driven model towards
innovation-led and technology-intensive growth.
Of the 41 projects
approved so far, 12 are at an early stage of development, while 29 are at a
later stage. Startups and micro, small and medium enterprises account for 19
projects, with the remaining 22 being undertaken by large companies.
By priority area, 27
projects relate to new medicines, five to complex generics and biosimilars, and
nine to novel medical devices.
The portfolio brings
together established pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology enterprises,
startups and MedTech innovators, with projects involving companies and innovators
such as Biocon, Bharat Biotech, Sun Pharma, Wockhardt, Zydus, Mankind Pharma,
Pandorum Technologies, Cellogen Therapeutics, Aurigene Oncology and Bugworks
Research.
The projects cover a
broad range of technologies, including an antibacterial therapy targeting
multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, an exosome-based regenerative
therapy for corneal disease, an in-vivo CAR-T platform, patient-derived breast
cancer organoids and a programmable RNA-targeting antiviral technology.
The approved
portfolio also includes portable plasmonic-PCR technology for point-of-care
infection diagnosis and a microfluidic platform for tuberculosis detection,
highlighting the focus on technologies with potential applications in both
domestic healthcare and global markets.
Under the strategic
priority framework of PRIP, enhanced support is available for innovations
addressing neglected tropical diseases, rare diseases, antimicrobial resistance
involving India-priority pathogens, pathogens with outbreak or pandemic
potential, and vaccines against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Six projects have so far been approved under this strategic priority framework, covering areas including bacterial pneumonia and meningitis, dengue, influenza and next-generation tuberculosis vaccines.
Evaluation of the remaining applications received under the first round of PRIP is underway, with further results expected to be announced over the coming month.
