Seated Panelists:Christopher Viehbacher, President & CEO, Biogen,Dilip Shanghvi, Founder & Managing Director, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Hari Bhartia, Founder and Co-Chairman, Jubilant Bhartia Group, Rajiv Kaul, Sector Portfolio Manager, Fidelity Investments and Dr. Stelios Papadopoulos, Chairman of the Board, Exelixis during the BioPharma Industry & Investment Outlook panel. / Image by: Avantika Panda

The USA-India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) held its 18th Annual BioPharma & Healthcare Summit in Boston, MA on Apr.25. The event summit served as a pivotal platform for fostering collaborative partnerships between Indian and global companies in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

Kicking off with welcome remarks from Karun Rishi, president of USAIC, the summit featured a series of panel discussions, keynotes, and strategy sessions aimed at overcoming barriers to collaboration. Renowned figures from the pharma industry, including Christopher Viehbacher, president and CEO of Biogen, and Dilip Shanghvi, founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, participated in insightful discussions.

Discussions highlighted the growing pharmaceutical ecosystem in India and the opportunities for research innovation and startup initiatives in fostering an international bio-pharma relationship between the U.S. and India.

During the "Clinical Trials Opportunities in India" panel, Badhri Srinivasan, head of Global Clinical Operations at Novartis, emphasized the importance of viewing India as a partner in advancing public health initiatives rather than merely a rescue destination. Industry experts echoed the need for more clinical trials, enhanced accessibility to regulators, and enforcement mechanisms to align with emerging policies.

Other panels also addressed various topics critical to the industry, such as drug discovery and development, restructuring R&D for enhanced productivity and innovation, clinical research, funding innovation, regulatory stipulations, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions trends.

Sukanya Nair, a first-time attendee, emphasized the significance of such intersectional discussions in addressing industry challenges. She noted the wide-reaching impact of forums organized by the chamber of commerce of both countries, with representatives from governments in attendance to address industry concerns.

The summit concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering global collaboration and driving innovation in the biopharma and healthcare sectors. With its forward-thinking approach and emphasis on partnership building, the USAIC continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare innovation on a global scale.