Glenmark targets one IND filing every year from FY27

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has outlined its innovation roadmaps, setting a target of filing one Investigational New Drug (IND) application every year beginning FY27 as it seeks to strengthen its research-led pharmaceutical business across oncology, dermatology and respiratory therapies.

At its Investor Day, a meeting held annually with industry analysts, the company positioned Ichnos Glenmark Innovation (IGI) at the centre of this strategy, with a continued focus on developing next-generation biologics, particularly multispecific antibodies for oncology. Its proprietary BEAT (Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the T-cell receptor) platform will remain a key area of investment to support the discovery of such novel antibodies.

The annual IND target is significant because it provides a measurable milestone for Glenmark's innovation strategy. An IND application is the regulatory step that allows a drug candidate to enter human clinical trials. Unlike commercial product launches, research programmes often take years to evaluate. A recurring IND cadence offers a tangible way to assess the outcomes on research investments.

The roadmap builds on more than two decades of investment in innovation. Glenmark established its new chemical entity research centre in Navi Mumbai in 2000, followed by its first biologics research centre in Switzerland in 2006. Since then, the company has executed more than 10 out-licensing deals and progressed over 16 molecules into clinical development, according to its Investor Day presentation.

One of the most visible outcomes of this strategy has been ISB 2001, which was out licensed to AbbVie.

IGI is also advancing ISB 2301, a first-in-class multispecific immune cell activator for solid tumours. The molecule is designed to target three tumour-associated antigens while activating both T cells and natural killer cells. The company says, an IND application for ISB 2301 is planned later this year, making it one of the next key milestones in the innovation roadmap. IGI will be a self-sustaining biotechnology business, with future revenues expected from development and regulatory milestones, licensing partnerships, royalties and, eventually, an initial public offering (IPO). The company is also positioning IGI as a financially Average annual investment in IGI is expected to remain around $70 million.

Alongside internal research, Glenmark is expanding its specialty portfolio across oncology, dermatology and respiratory through innovative and in-licensed products. Beyond this roadmap, a broader shift is taking shape across the Indian pharmaceutical industry. While manufacturing, formulations and generics remain the sector's foundation, companies are increasingly investing in biologics, specialty medicines and discovery-led research.