"Huge opportunity for Indian talent"

Pharmaceutical companies in emerging markets such as those of China and India need to leverage their knowledge capital in view of the difficulty in sustaining heavy costs involved in drug discovery research, according to Subhanu Saxena, chief executive of the UK subsidiary of Swiss drug major Novartis, reported by the Hindu Business Line news service.

Speaking at a recent panel discussion on opportunities for drugmakers in emerging markets at the health care and pharmaceutical conclave of the Indian School of Business, Mr Saxena told attendees that there is a huge opportunity for Indian talent, including in areas such as contract research.

While many Indian drug companies have a "world class organizational setting" required for growth, there is a need for a mind-shift in perceptions about data generation and research. "Globally, there is more focus on patient-driven research and hence, research should be based on the actual requirement of the patients," he said.