Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is significantly expanding the scale and complexity of its operations in India, repositioning its local development centers as central pillars of its global strategy. The company has effectively converted its presence in India to a Global Capability Center (GCC).
The company is focusing its research efforts on four core therapeutic areas: cardio, renal, metabolic diseases and oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. Rather than acting as a back-office support system, the India hub is now integrated across the entire drug development workflow, contributing to nearly every molecule that reaches late-stage development.
Novartis currently employs over 9,000 people in India, representing approximately 11% of its global workforce. Within this group, the Development India Hub alone consists of 2,800 physicians, scientists, and specialists. According to Dr. Sadhna Joglekar, Head of the Development India Hub, the country offers a unique ecosystem that blends scientific expertise with data-intensive operations. Indian teams are now responsible for critical functions including chemistry, biostatistics, clinical operations, and regulatory documentation for major Phase II and Phase III programs.
The strategic importance of the India hub is evidenced by its work on high-profile assets such as inclisiran, remibrutinib, and lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan. Beyond traditional drug development, Novartis is investing heavily in advanced technology platforms in India. These include radioligand therapy (RLT), xRNA, and cell and gene therapies.
The teams in Hyderabad and Mumbai are also driving digital transformation through AI-enabled analyses and “model-informed” drug development, utilizing platforms such as Protocol.AI to accelerate clinical evidence gathering.
A key area of future growth is the cardio-metabolic space, specifically regarding obesity. While Novartis intends to avoid “me-too” products, it is investigating next-generation siRNA-based mechanisms and long-acting biologics. If these programs advance to late-stage trials, the India hub will lead the execution.
By consolidating functions like pharmacovigilance, real-world evidence, and complex CMC: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls work in India, Novartis aims to improve the speed and quality of global decision-making. This integration ensures that the Indian workforce is no longer just a participant in global projects but a primary driver of the innovation that brings new medicines to the global market.
