Japanese pharmaceutical major Takeda is considering India as a base for global clinical trials in an effort to bring new medicines to market more quickly, the company’s India head told Reuters.
The discussions come at a time when India’s clinical trials industry is expanding rapidly, supported by a diverse patient population, cost advantages, and an expanding hospital network. Research firm Grand View projects the sector to surpass 2 billion dollars by 2030.
“India is a critical growth market for us, and we are committed to long-term investments here, both in innovation and in building new capabilities,” said Annapurna Das, general manager of Takeda India. She declined to disclose the scale of investment but confirmed that the company is assessing how best to use India’s trial ecosystem.
Takeda is also open to working with universities, healthcare providers, and technology partners in India as it refines its approach, Das said, while noting that specific plans are still under evaluation.
Ultimately, the company aims to weave India’s research and development environment into its global operations, giving patients in the country broader access to advanced treatments in cancer, neuroscience, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammation. Takeda expects to introduce several oncology drugs in India over the next few years, starting with a lung cancer treatment scheduled for release this year. The company also has a dengue vaccine in the pipeline, developed with local manufacturer Biological E., which is awaiting regulatory approval.
Earlier this year, Takeda opened an innovation centre in Bengaluru to draw on India’s technology expertise for its global digital transformation. The facility already employs more than 500 specialists in artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, and design, and is set to expand to a workforce of 750.
