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.

After a COVID-19-led manufacturing halt at its India facility and a slowdown in US launches hit Strides during the first quarter of FY22, the Indian firm is trying to fight back with an acquisition of assets from Endo and a growth strategy for Stelis Biopharma’s vaccines business, led by Sputnik V.

After a production setback, Aspen and Johnson & Johnson announce a donation of 300,000 vaccines to South African teachers. Strides partners with Ennaid for an oral COVID drug, while Dr Reddy’s, Lupin, Cipla and Sun Pharma Partner with Eli Lilly for baricitinib in India and Formycon receives approval for early action for its COVID-19 drug.

Brazil is permitting imports of additional coronavirus vaccines, while in India, Serum Institute will manufacture Sputnik V, the government is unifying vaccine sourcing, and emergency use approval has been granted to Lilly's anti-COVID-19 antibodies.