Pharma Cos Face Rough Patch With OTC Skincare Products

Cipla, Glenmark, Emcure are expanding with sunscreens, moisturizers and serums

- Jessica Jani

India's pharmaceutical giants have a battle on their hands as they take on beauty and cosmetic startups and their influencers. Consumers are increasingly seeking out clinically-backed skincare products, according to industry experts, but drugmakers currently account for only a fraction of the overall beauty and personal care market.

Cipla Ltd, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which have a presence in the dermatology or skin diseases segment, are expanding with sunscreens, moisturizers, and serums—products that don't need a prescription.

"There is an evident surge in cosmoderma products in India, driven by the consumer's need for a trustworthy science-backed solution that is efficacious and affordable," Shivam Puri, managing director and chief executive of Cipla Health Ltd, Cipla's consumer-focused unit, told Mint.