New-age obesity and diabetes medicines, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists, are expected to emerge as a major growth engine for India’s pharmaceutical industry in the coming years, Sun Pharma Managing Director Kirti Ganorkar said.

GLP-1 drugs, used to treat type-2 diabetes, high blood sugar and obesity, work by regulating insulin production and appetite. With lifestyle diseases rising sharply, improving access to these therapies will be crucial for both patient outcomes and industry expansion, Ganorkar told PTI. He said wider availability of such treatments, combined with AI-enabled digital tools for early diagnosis, disease monitoring and personalised medicine, would help drive innovation while ensuring affordability and accessibility.

India, long recognised as a global hub for generic medicines, is now positioning itself as a key player in the global weight management market amid a growing obesity-linked disease burden.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Chairman Satish Reddy echoed similar optimism, stating that easier access to risk capital could help India transition from being “the world’s pharmacy” to a global centre for pharmaceutical innovation. As the sector moves into 2026, innovation will be the defining growth driver, supported by scientific excellence, regulatory agility and collaborative research, he said. Reddy added that initiatives such as the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme and the Production Linked Incentive schemes for pharma R&D are steps in the right direction.

Rating agency Icra expects revenues of Indian pharmaceutical companies to grow 9–11 per cent in FY2026, driven by 8–10 per cent growth in the domestic market and strong performance in Europe, though US growth may moderate due to pricing pressures.

Aster DM Healthcare Founder Azad Moopen said faster regulatory clearances, stronger tier-2 and tier-3 healthcare infrastructure, workforce skilling and public-private collaboration will be vital to sustain sectoral growth and ensure affordable healthcare access nationwide.