Pfizer Expands R&D and Manufacturing in India, Says MD Meenakshi Nevatia

Pfizer Limited is ramping up its manufacturing and research and development (R&D) operations in India, with a focus on expanding local production and bringing more made-in-India products to market, according to Meenakshi Nevatia, Managing Director of Pfizer Limited.

In an interview with ANI on Tuesday, Nevatia outlined the company’s commitment to India, highlighting efforts to shift oncology and chemotherapy products from Australia to its Gujarat facility. "Pfizer is fully committed to India. Our expansion is happening across different areas, starting with R&D, where we are continuously growing. We currently have almost 1,500 people in our R&D organization in Chennai, including a center at the IIT Madras Research Park, where we are expanding capacity by 50%," Nevatia said.

In terms of manufacturing, Nevatia added that around 70% of Pfizer’s products sold in India are locally produced, either at its own plant in Goa or through partnerships with 18 contract manufacturers across the country. Additionally, Pfizer operates Asia’s only export-oriented unit for sterile injectables.

Pfizer is also establishing global capability centers in India, with recent launches including an analytics center in Mumbai, which employs 80 people. "There's a lot more to come in this area. Our expansion is happening in multiple ways across the business system," Nevatia explained.

The company is also working to expand its adult vaccination offerings in India. "We are already active in the pneumococcal vaccination space and are continuously looking to introduce more products. This requires navigating regulatory processes, including clinical studies," Nevatia noted. Recently, Pfizer launched a specialized vaccination center at a hospital in Gurugram, with plans to establish more such centers in the future.

In a separate announcement, Pfizer, in collaboration with NIPER-Ahmedabad, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, NITI Aayog, and Social Alpha, revealed the six winners of its flagship INDovation program for healthcare start-ups.

HBL