New Delhi, June 30 -- India has rightfully earned its reputation as the "Pharmacy of the World." We manufacture nearly one in every five generic medicines consumed globally, supply vaccines to over 150 countries and have become one of the world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs.

But there is one question that deserves far greater attention- How many truly indigenous pharmaceutical innovations has India produced since 2021? The answer is just eight.

These innovations have emerged from only a handful of Indian companies--Zydus Lifesciences, Wockhardt, Orchid Pharma, Biocon, ImmunoACT and ENTOD Pharmaceuticals--covering new chemical entities, biologics, immunotherapies, cell therapies and novel drug formulations. They prove beyon...