Problem That We Are Solving

Problem I : India’s Critical API Crisis : Over-Reliance on Imports

Problem — Staggering Import Dependency

• APIs, KSM and bulk drugs (2023–24): USD 4.5 billion
• ~35% of India’s total API requirements
• China supplies ~70–72% of these imports

Impact — Critical API Vulnerability

• Essential antibiotics (Penicillin G, Clavulanic Acid, Azithromycin): 80–100% dependency on China
• Fermentation-based APIs (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin): ~100% import reliance

National Security Concern

Single-source reliance (68–71% over last decade) threatens health security — during COVID-19, API prices surged over 100%.

Problem II : Chemical Synthesis Reigns in API Market: The Environmental Cost

Problem — Market Dominance of Chemical Synthesis

• Chemical synthesis heavily dominates the API market
• Holds 71.7% revenue share; biological APIs only 28.3% (2024)

Impact — Major Environmental Drawbacks

• Extensive use of fossil fuels/petrochemicals → resource depletion and GHG emissions
• High energy, pressure, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals → pollution and health hazards
• Solvent-intensive processes generate ~30% of industry waste; pharma waste ~200,000 tons/year
• Hazardous byproducts contaminate water, soil, and air

Greenhouse Effect

• Pharma industry: 4.4% of global CO₂; API manufacturing ~50% of sector footprint (largely chemical synthesis)
• API production emits ~34 kg CO₂-eq per declared unit; ~96% of process emissions

Problem III : High Production Costs and Drug Inaccessibility

The Problem

• Expensive chemical synthesis: high energy needs, complex purification, costly raw materials
• APIs contribute 20–30% of overall drug expense
• High prices limit access in low-income countries (Africa, Asia)

Impact

• Drug inaccessibility affects ~2 billion people annually
• Antibiotic resistance worsened by overpriced alternatives
• U.S.: API costs inflate drug prices by ~25% (USP, 2025); developing nations see ~100% hikes during shortages