Next-gen leaders are revitalizing India’s pharmaceutical landscape as family-run drug empires successfully navigate leadership transitions.
India’s largest pharmaceutical companies, such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, are preparing the next generation of their promoter families to take over the reins. Recently, Torrent Pharma announced the appointment of Aman Mehta, son of chairman Samir Mehta, as managing director, while Sun Pharma appointed Vidhi Shanghvi, daughter of founder Dilip Shanghvi, as a whole-time director. This trend is not limited to these companies, as other pharma firms like Lupin Ltd have also seen the next generation of their promoter families take charge.
Experts believe that such successions must be planned with foresight, factoring in ideal transition times, grooming, and the role of other veteran executives in shaping up the incoming leaders. A good template for succession planning is one where there is a fair bit of overlap between the senior generation and the next generation, allowing the next generation to experience different parts of the business. Aman Mehta, for example, has been involved with Torrent Pharma’s India business and played a key role in the integration of the Unichem Laboratories Ltd acquisition.
Similarly, Aalok Shanghvi, son of Dilip Shanghvi, has handled various roles in marketing, research and development, and project management, and has headed Sun’s business in Bangladesh and emerging markets. Vidhi Shanghvi began her career at Sun Pharma in 2012 as a brand manager and took over as business head of the company’s consumer healthcare business in 2015.
Experts emphasize that promoters need to groom their progeny from the shop floor, exposing them to internal and external stakeholders, and plan the role of incumbent senior executives in the transition process. An ideal transition would involve a transition of erstwhile leadership as well, with some stalwarts remaining in advisory positions. Empowering the successors, whether family members or professional teams, and ensuring they understand the company’s needs is crucial for the continuity of a successful business.
However, corporate successions can be tricky, and India’s corporate landscape is riddled with high-profile family disputes, even in instances where promoter families had drawn up legal frameworks to ensure a smooth transition. The challenges for the next generation include developing their own styles and strategies while continuing the company’s growth and legacy, and retaining the differentiating factor or competitive edge of the company. For companies facing a vacuum in finding successors from within the family, the focus needs to be on bringing in professional talent who align with the firm’s culture and vision, while fostering loyalty and longevity in leadership. Ultimately, empowering the successors and ensuring they understand the company’s needs is key to a successful transition.
Pfizer-Arvinas treatment outperforms AstraZeneca’s in slowing breast cancer progression.
A promising experimental treatment for breast cancer, developed by Pfizer and Arvinas, has shown significant results in delaying the progression of the disease. The treatment, called vepdegestrant, was tested in a clinical trial of 624 patients with a specific type of breast cancer that accounts for nearly 70% of all breast cancer cases. According to the results, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, vepdegestrant delayed the progression of the disease by more than three months compared to AstraZeneca’s Faslodex in patients with a specific gene mutation.
The trial found that vepdegestrant increased survival without disease progression by five months in patients with ESR1 mutations, compared to about two months for Faslodex. In a larger group of patients, vepdegestrant increased survival by 3.8 months, compared to 3.6 months for Faslodex. These results are significant, as breast cancer accounts for about one-third of all new female cancers each year in the US.
Vepdegestrant belongs to a novel class of drugs called PROTAC ER degraders, which work by harnessing the body’s natural protein disposal system to target and degrade proteins that spur tumor growth. The treatment has a more convenient oral dosing compared to Faslodex, which is injected into a muscle. Analysts expect vepdegestrant to earn $576 million in peak sales in 2032, and it is seen as a potential competitor to existing treatments such as Eli Lilly’s Verzenio, Pfizer’s Ibrance, and Novartis’ Kisqali.
The study’s findings are a positive development in the fight against breast cancer, which is a major health concern for women. With further research and development, vepdegestrant may become a valuable treatment option for patients with advanced breast cancer. However, it’s worth noting that Arvinas has announced that it will not move forward with two other planned late-stage studies of the drug, citing earlier results that failed to show benefit in a larger set of patients. Nonetheless, the latest results suggest that vepdegestrant has the potential to make a significant impact in the treatment of breast cancer.
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a single observation for Cipla’s Bommasandra manufacturing facility.
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued a single observation for Cipla’s Bommasandra facility, which is a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant located in Karnataka, India. The observation was made after the USFDA conducted an inspection of the facility from February 14 to February 18, 2022.
The USFDA issues observations under its Form 483, which is a list of conditions or practices that are required to be corrected in order to comply with the agency’s regulations. In this case, the single observation issued to Cipla’s Bommasandra facility indicates that the company has been found to be in compliance with most of the USFDA’s regulations, with only one minor issue that needs to be addressed.
The USFDA’s observation is related to the company’s quality control procedures, which are designed to ensure the purity, potency, and safety of the pharmaceutical products manufactured at the facility. While the observation does not specify the exact nature of the issue, it is likely related to a minor deviation from the company’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) or a failure to properly document certain quality control activities.
Cipla, which is one of India’s largest pharmaceutical companies, has stated that it is taking steps to address the observation and ensure that the facility is in full compliance with the USFDA’s regulations. The company has a strong track record of compliance with regulatory requirements and has previously received approvals from the USFDA for several of its products.
The issuance of a single observation is not uncommon, and it is seen as a minor setback for the company. In fact, many pharmaceutical companies receive observations from the USFDA during the course of an inspection, and it is up to the company to address the issue and ensure that it is in compliance with the agency’s regulations.
Overall, the USFDA’s observation of Cipla’s Bommasandra facility is a normal part of the regulatory process, and it does not necessarily indicate any major issues with the company’s quality control procedures or its ability to manufacture safe and effective pharmaceutical products. The company will likely address the observation and continue to operate the facility in accordance with the USFDA’s regulations.
Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo unveil groundbreaking cancer treatment findings at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, as reported on geneonline.com.
The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting featured significant presentations from major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo. The meeting highlighted new data on innovative cancer treatments, showcasing the ongoing advancements in oncology research. Here are the key takeaways from the meeting:
Pfizer’s Presentations
Pfizer presented data on its pipeline of cancer therapies, including its investigational drug, talazoparib, which showed promising results in treating metastatic breast cancer. The company also presented findings on its immunotherapy combination, avelumab, which demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival rates for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
AstraZeneca’s Updates
AstraZeneca shared updates on its cancer portfolio, including its PARP inhibitor, olaparib, which showed improved progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer. The company also presented data on its immunotherapy, durvalumab, which demonstrated durable responses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Daiichi Sankyo’s Announcements
Daiichi Sankyo presented promising data on its investigational antibody-drug conjugate, trastuzumab deruxtecan, which showed significant responses in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. The company also announced plans to initiate a phase 3 trial for its ADC, patritumab deruxtecan, in non-small cell lung cancer.
Key Themes and Takeaways
The 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting emphasized the importance of innovative combination therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted treatments. The meeting also highlighted the growing role of precision medicine in oncology, with many presentations focusing on biomarker-driven approaches to cancer treatment.
Overall, the meeting provided a glimpse into the future of cancer treatment, with several promising therapies on the horizon. As researchers and clinicians continue to explore new approaches to cancer care, patients can expect improved treatment options and outcomes in the years to come. The presentations from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo demonstrate the significant progress being made in the field of oncology, and the potential for these advancements to transform the lives of cancer patients worldwide.
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