Cipla Expands Biosimilars Portfolio with Planned Steady Product Additions

Cipla Aims to Expand Biosimilars Pipeline Over Next Five Years

Cipla, a leading pharmaceutical company, is investing in the development of a biosimilars pipeline, with plans to steadily add products over the next five years. This strategic move is driven by the growing demand for cheaper versions of complex biologic drugs.

According to Achin Gupta, managing director and global chief executive officer (CEO), the company is advancing its opportunities in biosimilars and other complex modalities, where it sees a significant long-term opportunity. This vision is being supported by a joint venture with biologics contract drug manufacturer Kemwell Biopharma, announced in March. The partnership aims to build a focused pipeline aligned to Cipla's core strengths and maintain a disciplined market-led approach.

Currently, the company has two biosimilars in the pipeline and plans to add 1-2 products every year over the next 5-6 years. This expansion is a key part of Cipla's strategy to build a strong pipeline across respiratory, peptides, and complex generics. The company is investing in research and development, particularly in developed markets, to drive growth and improve its offerings.

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Performance and Growth Outlook

Despite facing challenges in the recent quarter, Cipla's performance and growth outlook remain promising. In the March quarter, the company registered a net profit of ₹554.64 crore, a decline of 54.6% year-on-year. Revenue from operations also fell, declining 2.80% from a year earlier to ₹6,541.20 crore.

However, the company's stock closed 2.7% higher at ₹1,327.15 on the BSE on Wednesday. Cipla's One India business grew 15% year-on-year, with all three segments delivering double-digit growth during the quarter. The company's North America business also performed well, with a quarterly revenue of $155 million supported by a differentiated portfolio and steady base business.

Financial Performance

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As highlighted by Gupta, the company expects strong growth in its core markets, including India, where it is expecting a strong double-digit growth, and the US, where its pipeline is very robust and expected to cross a run rate of $1 billion by the end of FY27. The company is also expecting good sequential and annual growth in the US, driven by its pipeline, which includes a recent approval for the generic version of respiratory drug Ventolin, and four other respiratory launches, as well as a peptide in the pipeline.