Mumbai, the hub of the pharma industry, recently played host to the 5th Elets Pharma Leadership Summit & Awards on 5th October 2023 at Holiday Inn. This summit was organised by Elets Technomedia in collaboration with eHealth Magazine and delved deep into the theme “Pioneering the Frontiers of Pharma Innovation.”

Marked by engaging sessions and discussions, the event showcased insights from over 30+ industry leaders. The gala awards night, which recognised the accomplishments of over 20 leading organisations in the pharmaceutical domain, was a major highlight.

Dushyant Mishra, Vertical Lead – Healthcare, Elets Technomedia, warmly welcomed the participants, emphasising India’s growing stature and role in the global pharmaceutical landscape. He stated, “The pharmaceutical sector has witnessed significant growth over the past few decades. Reflecting on the success of our previous four editions, we are excited to present the 5th edition of the Pharma Leadership Summit & Awards, promising even more enriching discussions, networking opportunities, and learning experiences. We are delighted to have you all with us today as we work together to shape the pharmaceutical industry.”

The summit was rich in insights. Dr Mukesh Kumar, Senior Vice President & Head – Clinical R&D, Cipla shared, “The challenges we currently confront have a distinctly futuristic dimension. As the pharmaceutical industry expands its global footprint, cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming increasingly integral. Across the globe, there’s a palpable shift towards personalisation in many sectors, driven in part by these technologies. However, one must question: Are we truly harnessing the full potential of AI and ML on a global scale? As the world becomes more interconnected and personalised, it is imperative to ensure that these tools are employed judiciously and to their utmost efficacy.”

Highlighting various facets of pharma innovation, global standards alignment, and the importance of elevating our research and production standards, Amit Bhakri, Business Unit Director – Biopharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca said, “We need to harmonise our processes to align with international regulations. This calls for an investment in capacity building. While we excel in manufacturing, aligning with international standards means we must enhance our capacity in quality management.”

Nikkhil K Masurkar, Chief Executive Officer, Entod Pharmaceuticals stated, “India is often termed the “Pharmacy of the World.” We shouldn’t just introduce it as a manufacturing hub but also as a research and innovation hub. To bring us to a global standard, we first need to upgrade our GMP Standards. There has already been a revised GMP in the draft form of Section M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule. This revision will elevate us to a much higher global standard of pharma production and manufacturing. Numerous changes can be expected, such as the introduction of electronic GMP records, ensuring no manipulation of records at the factory level, and the mandatory testing of raw materials before production. Many provisions in the updated section aim to enhance our GMP standards. This is crucial because, currently in India, out of 10,500 manufacturers, only 2,000 adhere to the WHO, GMP Guidelines. This means 8,500 manufacturers are not yet up to those global standards of manufacturing. We have a considerable journey ahead. The optimal approach is to ensure Section M is revised, which it is, and we hope it will be enforced in the coming year.”

Moreover, industry presentations, including those by Dr Santosh Dixit, Chief Domain Expert – Healthcare and LifeSciences, Persistent Systems, Sumit K Gehani, Chief Growth Officer – New Verticals, Citius Communications, Nishant Vyas, Senior Director, Sales India and ASEAN, Kinaxis, Manish Rane, Chief Technology Officer, iSecureNet Solutions Pvt Ltd, Shubhram Pandey, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Heorlytics, and Sunil Kumar, Country General Manager, NeoLacta Lifesciences, brought forth perspectives on digital innovations, future-ready infrastructure, and the evolving role of technology in the pharma sector.

Samvardhana Motherson Health Solution Limited was felicitated under the category ‘Excellence in Use of Technology’. Bijender Mishra, Global IT Head & Global CISO, Alkem Laboratories Ltd was honoured as ‘Leading Pharma Tech Leader’, and JOGO HEALTH PRIVATE LIMITED received accolades under the category of ‘Excellence in Stroke Care’, among many others.

The event received invaluable support from its Gold Partner, Kinaxis, Pharma Tech Partner, Persistent, Associate Partners, Motherson, iSecureNet, and Heorlytics, alongside Exhibitors, Citiuscomm and Neolacta.

Another key moment was the launch of the eHealth Magazine’s special edition, “Is Technology Penning A New Chapter For Pharma? Explore The Transformation“. This testament to the union of pharma and technology was unveiled by Dr Mukesh Kumar, Senior Vice President & Head – Clinical R&D, Cipla, Amit Bhakri, Business Unit Director – Biopharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Nikkhil K Masurkar, Chief Executive Officer, Entod Pharmaceuticals, Dr Santosh Dixit, Chief Domain Expert – Healthcare and LifeSciences, Persistent Systems, Vimal Manchanda, Chief Operating Officer, Samvardhana Motherson Health Solution Limited, Kapil Soni, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Revoquant AI, Sumit K Gehani, Chief Growth Officer – New Verticals, Citius Communications, Manish Rane, Chief Technology Officer, iSecureNet Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Dr Vijay Bambulkar, Former Asia-Pacific Director Regulatory Affairs, External Growth & Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, Consultant to Industry & Academia.

The 5th Elets Pharma Leadership Summit & Awards was not just an event; it was a movement, a symphony of ideas, aspirations, and solutions. The summit’s unparalleled success stands as a testament to the industry’s unwavering commitment to push boundaries, break barriers, and craft a brilliant future. The pharmaceutical horizon looks brighter than ever, and this summit will be remembered as a beacon that illuminated the path forward.

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