India to boost biosimilar insulin, CGM manufacturing as Global South looks for support
New Delhi, April 4
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh met with International Diabetes Federation President-elect Dr Niti Pall, and the latter highlighted that Asian and African countries "are increasingly looking to India for affordable diabetes care solutions," due to leadership in supplying cost-effective vaccines, an official statement said on Saturday.
Dr Singh and Dr Pall discussed indigenous biosimilar insulin production and diabetes related indigenous biomanufacturing prospects, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a statement.
She pointed out that high insulin prices in many regions continue to limit access, reinforcing the need for alternative manufacturing hubs capable of delivering quality products at lower cost.
"The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening India's capabilities in insulin manufacturing, particularly biosimilar insulins and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) instruments," the statement said, noting global concerns about future insulin availability.
Dr Paul flagged the risk of supply constraints as major multinational manufacturers increasingly shift their focus towards newer therapies such as GLP-1 drugs.
She noted that insulin production globally is currently concentrated among few companies, creating supply chains and affordability challenges, especially for Type 1 diabetes patients dependent on lifelong insulin therapy.
Against this backdrop, biosimilar insulin or highly similar versions of existing insulin therapies emerged as a key area of focus as a lower‑cost alternative to match existing therapies in safety and efficacy.
Dr Singh acknowledged India's pharmaceutical strengths but said domestic insulin manufacturing remains relatively limited.
The minister informed that the Department of Biotechnology is already supporting efforts to enhance insulin production capacity, mentioning recent steps to scale up manufacturing by an Indian company.
They discussed the potential for deeper collaboration involving Indian researchers, industry stakeholders and international partners in areas such as clinical trials, technology development and financing models.
Dr Paul noted the rapid expansion of low-cost devices from countries such as China, with significant price advantages over Western products, and cautioned that these manufacturers are already capturing substantial market share.
Dr Singh observed that Indian companies possess the technological capability to develop comparable devices, including CGMs, and stressed that scaling up production would require stronger industry participation and targeted support.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone with a family member who is diabetic, this news gives me so much hope. The cost of imported insulin and monitoring devices is a huge burden for middle-class families. If India can make quality alternatives, it will be a game-changer.
Good move, but we need to act fast. The article mentions China is already capturing the market with low-cost devices. Our 'Make in India' needs to be 'Scale Up in India' quickly. We have the tech, now we need execution and maybe some protectionist policies to help our companies initially.
This is fantastic. Global health equity depends on breaking monopolies. India becoming a reliable hub for biosimilars can save millions of lives in Africa and Asia. Hope the international collaboration mentioned materializes soon.
The minister is right to point out our limited domestic manufacturing. We are the pharmacy of the world for generics, but for insulin we still depend on MNCs. Time to change that. This should be a national mission like space or nuclear tech.
A respectful criticism: While the intent is great, we've heard such announcements before. The key is in the implementation and ensuring the final product is truly affordable for the common man, not just for export. The government must ensure strict price controls for the domestic market.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.