Is The Pharmaceutical Industry Shaping Up To Be The New IT?

Given the shared traits between the pharmaceutical and IT industries, it's worth pondering whether the pharmaceutical industry is on its way to becoming the new IT. Mandar Wagh delves into the dynamics of the US drug shortage, India's competitive edge and the technological revolution within the industry, all of which are setting the stage for unparalleled growth

-  Mandar Wagh

Over the past few months, the Indian benchmark indices have witnessed a significant rally, breaking away from their previously observed range-bound fluctuations. This momentum has propelled the indices to attain unprecedented highs, consequently leading to gains of around 10-11 per cent for both the BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 over the past six months. The robust performance can be attributed to an overarching positive sentiment that goes beyond the broader market and encompasses specific industries as well. Notably, Nifty Pharma, an index tracking the pharmaceutical industry, has demonstrated exceptional resilience.

It has outperformed other sectors with a remarkable surge of nearly 28 per cent over the same six-month period. Sizeable foreign investments in the industry, coupled with impressive performances from pharmaceutical companies, have been instrumental in fuelling the strong upswing. Furthermore, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a substantial transformation driven by technological advancements that have previously revolutionised the IT industry. When analysing various factors such as its global market presence, heavy reliance on the US markets for revenue, its innovation-driven and technology-centric nature, stringent regulatory environment, and the expertise it demands, one might contemplate whether the pharmaceutical industry is shaping up to be the new IT.