How AI is turning India from ‘pharmacy of the world’ into ‘intelligent pharmacy of the world

Bangalore: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast emerging as the game-changer for the global pharmaceutical industry, reshaping how medicines are discovered, developed, and delivered. Once considered futuristic, AI is now slashing drug discovery timelines, streamlining regulatory filings, and strengthening supply chains. India, already hailed as the “pharmacy of the world,” is at the forefront of this transformation with companies adopting predictive and data-driven approaches.

Experts say AI could boost productivity by 30–40% while opening new frontiers in treating rare and complex diseases. Against this backdrop, industry leaders are positioning AI not as hype, but as the very engine of pharma’s future.

Speaking on this, Mr Hari Kiran Chereddi, Managing Director & CEO of HRV Pharma & New Horizon Global Pharma, stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quietly rewriting the pharma future.

“As everyone is fixated on AI in drug discovery, we at HRV Pharma are proving its influence across the value chain — from compliance to supply to development. Through AI, we’ve moved from a reactive to a predictive approach. Our systems scan data across quality issues across partner plants, flagging risks before regulators ever do,” he said.

He said that as a nation, we’ve compressed regulatory filing timelines from over a year to just a few months, enabling faster global market access. “What is to be noted is that our AI-powered orchestration ensures that medicines continue to move, even when traditional supply chains falter. But the true promise awaits. We are already toying with using AI to re-engineer molecules for orphan diseases, oncology, and animal health — areas where patients have no or limited hope,” he added.

Chereddi’s message:

To us, AI is not a buzzword but a productive engine of change. India has been known as the 'pharmacy of the world' for years. With AI leading us, we believe it can now be the intelligent pharmacy of the world — delivering safer, smarter, and more affordable drugs to those who need them most."

A Broader AI-Driven Transformation

India’s pharmaceutical industry currently supplies approximately 20% of global generic drug exports and is on track to nearly double from ~$58 billion to around $120–130 billion by 2030

The AI market in Indian drug discovery is forecast to expand from US$49.9 million in 2023 to US$372.9 million by 2030, representing a robust CAGR of ~33.3% (Source: Business Standard)

Grand View Research

Globally, the AI pharmaceutical market is projected to reach US$16.49 billion by 2034, while AI-powered medical devices could surge to US$97.07 billion by 2028 (Source: EY)

Real-World Applications Backing the Claim

According to a 2025 EY report, 50% of Indian pharma firms are investing in or exploring AI, with 25% already deploying GenAI in live production settings. AI adoption is anticipated to yield productivity gains of 30–40%

In drug discovery, AI platforms can screen millions of molecules in silico, drastically speeding up the timeline compared to traditional lab-heavy approaches — some estimates suggest time and cost reductions of up to 60%. (Source: India Today)

Likewise, AI is revolutionising clinical trials, enabling decentralized recruitment, remote monitoring, and safety reporting automation—cutting operational inefficiencies by around 40% (Source: pharmatail)

On the regulatory front, gen-AI–powered medical writing has reduced timeframes for drafting clinical-study reports by over 50% (e.g., from 180 to 80 hours) while halving error rates. (Source: McKinsey & Company)

Why This Matters for India—and the World

• Speed and Precision: HRV Pharma’s AI-driven compression of filing timelines from over a year to mere months is emblematic of evolving industry efficiencies.
• Resilience in Supply: AI’s orchestration of logistics ensures continuity of drug supply—even amid disruptions—bolstering healthcare reliability.
• Hope for the Underserved: By directing AI efforts toward orphan diseases, oncology, and animal health, HRV Pharma is targeting areas often neglected by mainstream pharmaceutical R&D.
• National Growth & Global Leadership: India’s ambition to transition from the “pharmacy of the world” to the “intelligent pharmacy of the world” aligns with its expanding market size and AI-driven innovation trajectory.

In Summary (Bullet Points)

Quote Highlight: Preserved verbatim from Mr Hari Kiran Chereddi on the transformative power of AI across pharma.

• Market Dynamics: Indian pharma set to reach ~$130 billion by 2030; AI-in-drug-discovery growing at ~33% CAGR
• Adoption Stats: 50% investing in AI, 25% have live GenAI; expected to boost productivity by up to 40%
• Operational Impact: AI slashes timelines and cost in R&D, improves trial recruitment and reporting, and automates regulatory document workflows
• Strategic Vision: AI enables predictive quality controls, supply resilience, and innovation in underaddressed therapeutic areas.
• India’s Next Phase: Leading the global health space with AI-driven drug discovery, production, and delivery.