Indian drugmakers increasing capital and research spending

With over $50 billion worth of drugs set to go off patent over the next two years in the USA, Indian pharmaceutical companies are stepping up to the plate, loosening their purse strings and spending more on capital expenditure (capex), reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

Though Indian companies continue to be skittish about any scrutiny undertaken by the US Food and Drug Administration, they are likely to invest more over the next four years to comply with the strict norms set by the US regulator. The enhanced capex would also hold them in good stead when they target drugs going off patent on cancer, multiple sclerosis and even rheumatoid arthritis.