Zeenat Parween, Correspondent, India Pharma Outlook
(1).jpg "Top 10 Innovators to Watch in India's Biotech Sector in 2026")
The biotech industry in India is at an interesting phase. The industry pioneers are still active but now the focus has shifted to not how to demonstrate ability but what to do next. The focus in 2026 will not be on market trends but on leaders who are scaling up science, addressing gaps in healthcare access and reacting to real-life pressure.
There are some who are already well known, while others are working quietly, away from headlines. Their success in the past is not the only reason why they are worth watching, but the way they are taking Indian biotech in the years ahead.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been in this space longer than most. That alone makes her worth watching. But the real reason is what Biocon is trying to do next. Biosimilars are no longer new. The challenge now is trust, consistency, and global scale. Diabetes care remains central, but cancer and biologics are growing priorities. Biocon also introduced new biosimilars for cancer treatment, adding more affordable options for patients needing complex therapies. Shaw has always played the long game. Shaw has always played the long game. In 2026, the question is how well Biocon can hold its ground in crowded global markets without losing its focus on affordability.
Prasad G V leads a company that knows pressure well. Regulatory setbacks, price controls or tough markets, none of these are new to Dr. Reddy’s. What makes 2026 important is balance. The company is moving deeper into complex drugs and biosimilars, where mistakes are costly. Recently, Dr. Reddy’s launched Hevaxin, India’s first hepatitis E vaccine for adults, filling a public health gap. Prasad’s style is calm and measured. That steadiness matters when growth slows or rules change. Watching Dr. Reddy’s next steps will say a lot about how Indian pharma adapts without rushing.
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After COVID-19, nothing is the same for Serum Institute. Expectations are higher now. So is scrutiny. Adar Poonawalla has to steer a company that the world depends on, but no longer urgently needs. In 2025, Serum signed a deal with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to help develop a dengue monoclonal antibody treatment, with Phase III trials in India and Brazil as part of that effort. This work aims to bring a specific dengue treatment to countries where outbreaks are frequent. In 2026, the focus will be on what comes after the crisis years. Serum’s scale is its strength, but also its burden. How Poonawalla handles that will shape the company’s future far more than its past achievements.
Dr. Krishna Ella doesn’t rush. That’s always been his style. Bharat Biotech became widely known during the pandemic, but the company’s real test lies ahead. In 2026, attention will shift to its broader vaccine pipeline. Diseases that don’t trend. Problems that don’t attract fast funding. Ella believes India should build its own solutions, even when it’s slower. Whether that approach holds up in a competitive global market is something many will be watching closely.
Dilip Shanghvi rarely speaks publicly, but his decisions shape a huge part of Indian pharma. Sun Pharma is already large. Growth now has to come from smarter bets, not expansion alone. In 2026, the focus will be on specialty drugs and innovation, areas that demand patience and capital. Shanghvi’s strength has always been restraint. Knowing when not to act. That skill may matter more than ever as markets tighten and expectations rise.
Swati Dalal works close to the ground. She works with sales teams, Doctors and Brands. That perspective is often missing in big conversations about biotech. In 2026, Zydus Healthcare’s performance will depend on execution more than science. Dalal’s experience shows in how she approaches growth—practical, steady, and market-aware. No dramatic shifts, just constant adjustment. In a crowded space, that kind of leadership can quietly make the difference between staying relevant and fading out.
Also Read: India's Innovative Therapies Set Global Standard at Low Cost
Panacea Biotec operates where timelines stretch and patience is tested. Vaccines take time. Regulations take longer. Dr. Rajesh Jain has spent years navigating that space. In 2025, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) licensed a new multi?stage malaria vaccine candidate called AdFalciVax to multiple companies, including Panacea Biotec, chosen to help further develop and commercialize it. That places the company in broader public health efforts beyond routine immunization programs. In 2026, the focus will be on follow-through. Turning research into reliable outcomes. Government partnerships and global programs bring visibility, but also pressure. Jain’s role is less about expansion and more about continuity. Making sure work done over years doesn’t stall when conditions change.
Wockhardt works in tough categories. Antibiotics are necessary, but rarely profitable. Compliance is strict and margins are thin. Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala has to balance all of that while keeping the company moving forward. His involvement in rural healthcare adds another dimension to his leadership. In 2026, the question isn’t growth alone. It’s sustainability. Can Wockhardt stay relevant in areas the world needs but often overlooks?
Genomics sounds exciting but using it day to day is harder. Vedam Ramprasad sits right in that gap. MedGenome has built strong testing capabilities, but adoption takes time. In 2026, the focus will be on usefulness. Are doctors using genetic data more confidently? Are patients benefiting in real ways? Ramprasad’s background in science helps keep expectations realistic. His work is about integration, not spectacle.
Indian Immunologicals does not seek attention. It focuses on supply. That’s why it matters. In 2026, stability will be more valuable than novelty in many public health programs. Dr. Anand Kumar brings experience from large pharma systems, which shows in how IIL operates. Watching IIL is about understanding how much impact steady leadership can have without noise.
The biotech story in 2026 won’t be about sudden breakthroughs. It will be about follow-through. About who stays focused when progress slows. The people on this list are not starting from zero. They are managing weight—of scale, of expectations, of responsibility. Some will take bold steps. Others will move carefully. Both approaches matter. What they do next will shape not just companies, but how healthcare reaches people. That’s why they’re worth watching now.
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