'Policy support important as India largely an out-of-pocket mkt

British drug major AstraZeneca is working on several clinical trials and several cancer-related projects in India. The company is trying to bring in technology to speed up the introduction of its global products. AstraZeneca Pharma India Managing Director and Country President SANJEEV PANCHAL talks to Shine Jacob about the company's future plans in an interview in Chennai. Edited excerpts.

- Shine Jacob

With your global plans to reach $80 billion in revenue by 2030, what will be the Indian market's contribution to that?

We achieved around $45 billion in sales last year globally, and almost $10 billion was invested in research and development.

Our mission is to bring to India the new assets launched globally as quickly as possible. That would define how much we can contribute to this global ambition. For example, in 2023, we announced we would bring 15 new launches or a combination of new assets to India by 2025. We have received approval to launch nine of those 15. We are bringing these assets to the country, and that will contribute to global ambitions.

Over the past 45 years, we have strengthened our footprint, including the Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC), which helps bring medicines faster and supports over 100 countries. We see this market as India for India, and India for the world through such centres. We want to be pioneers in science.

What is your strategy regarding the launch of early diagnosis products for cancer?