Early COVID-19 therapies including Gilead’s remdesivir, China-plus procurement policies, vaccine partnerships and a dovish stance by the central bank led to returns on India biotech and healthcare funds outperforming global returns. Meanwhile, funding for e-pharmacies and online consulting firms gathered pace.

India’s Granules has grown through increased market penetration of its existing products as well as new product launches. The company is planning to invest in expanding its API capacity, finished dosages and a new multiple unit pellet facility.

With a proposed IPO, Gland Pharma’s parent company, Fosun Pharma, hopes to raise funds for its injectables business and possibly its COVID-19 vaccine. The move will also cut Chinese ownership against a backdrop of shaky relations between India and China. As investors warm up to pharma stocks, the timing seems right.