State Government Assures Support to Promote Research and Innovation in the Pharmaceutical Sector
Mumbai, October 2026: The Maharashtra government is committed to promoting research and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector to make healthcare services better, more affordable and easily accessible to the common people, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.
He assured pharmaceutical companies that the state government would extend the necessary policy and other support to encourage progress in the sector. He said significant advances could be achieved through collaboration among world-class universities, research institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration of AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Goregaon, Mumbai. The event was attended by Praveen Rao Akkinepally, President and Managing Director of AstraZeneca India; Arun Krishna, Vice-President for Asia; Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Executive Officer of MITRA and Chief Economic Adviser to the Chief Minister; and investment adviser Kaustubh Dhavse, among others.
Focus on Research and Innovation
Fadnavis said India had established a strong position in the global pharmaceutical industry, with Indian generic medicines witnessing substantial demand even in highly regulated markets such as the United States and Europe. He said the quality and capabilities of India’s pharmaceutical industry had been recognised internationally, and the next priority should be to strengthen research and innovation.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of the bulk drug park being developed in the country with the support of the Central Government, saying it could bring about significant changes in the pharmaceutical sector.
Recalling AstraZeneca’s contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fadnavis said India would not forget the company’s role in the country’s response to the health crisis. The Covishield vaccine provided significant support to people across India, he said.
He also referred to the Vaccine Maitri initiative launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through which India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to 99 countries. According to Fadnavis, the initiative demonstrated the Indian cultural principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — and AstraZeneca made an important contribution to this effort.
Innovation Key to Improving Healthcare
Emphasising the role of innovation in transforming healthcare, Fadnavis said research was advancing in pharmaceuticals, medical technology and diagnostic methods. He stressed the need to develop more effective treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, with the aim of significantly reducing mortality.
Accurate diagnosis, treatments tailored to individual patients and access to modern medicines could help improve healthcare outcomes, he said. Innovation, he added, was essential to ensuring that every citizen could access quality medical care at an affordable cost.
The Chief Minister also called on AstraZeneca to collaborate with internationally recognised universities arriving in Maharashtra and leading research institutions in the state. Such partnerships, he said, would strengthen institutional research and help harness the talent of young people working in innovation.
He encouraged the company to expand its activities in research, pharmaceuticals and other healthcare-related fields through its Mumbai headquarters.
Fadnavis reiterated that industrial growth was closely linked to the state’s overall development and assured companies that the Maharashtra government would continue to support businesses and accelerate their growth.
AstraZeneca Highlights Commitment to Research
In his introductory remarks, Praveen Rao Akkinepally, President and Managing Director of AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, outlined the vision behind the company’s Mumbai headquarters.
He said AstraZeneca’s objectives were aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat and Maharashtra’s goal of Viksit Maharashtra. He emphasised that strengthening research in pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals was essential to making India an innovation-driven economy.
Akkinepally said AstraZeneca was a global pharmaceutical company committed to improving patients’ lives through science. The company is working to transform cancer treatment while also conducting research into respiratory diseases, biologic medicines and treatments for rare diseases.
He said the company would contribute to Maharashtra’s development by pursuing scientific research and initiatives aimed at delivering meaningful benefits to society.
