Maharashtra continues to dominate the Indian pharmaceutical scenario with major investments in new facilities, research & development, tie-ups with international players and bare -knuckled aggression  into highly regulated markets like US, EU and Japan. These companies were also able to launch several new cost -effective products in emerging markets. Many of the pharma players have set up  subsidiaries in international market to tap the upcoming opportunities from expiration of several patents in the near future. Having several  US FDA approved plants, higher number of approvals of ANDAs and DMFs, the state was able to gain more  and more market share.

During the last couple of years some of the  Maharashtra- based pharmaceutical majors like Piramal Healthcare, Wockhardt and J B Chemical and Pharmaceuticals cashed out  part of their business to multinationals or Indian companies. At the same time several companies could cash in on in-licensing and CRAMS business with R&D activities. Many of the MNCs have also consolidated their worldwide business operations which resulted in amalgamation of few companies in Maharashtra. Pfizer's  acquisition of  Wyeth and Abbott Laboratories takeover of Solvay will have an impact  in the state. .

Beefing up  R&D activities, these companies are developing products for domestic as well as international markets and prepare the dossiers for submissions to various regulatory agencies all over the world including USA, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and other semi -regulated countries. These companies are undertaking a number of bio-equivalence studies and clinical trials. Several companies are also working on new drug delivery system projects including solutions, sustained release dosage forms and micro emulsions.    

The leading listed 50 pharmaceutical companies, with registered office in Maharashtra, achieved net sales growth of 11.5 per cent during the year ended March 2011 to Rs 46,537 crore from Rs 41,740 crore in the previous year. There EBDITA  increased by 7.4 per cent to Rs 10,332 crore as against Rs 9,618 crore in the previous year. As per a Pharmabiz study of the net sales of of 100 top pharmaceutical companies in India, the Maharashtra - based 50 companies contributed 45 per cent to sales of 100 companies during 2010-11 and there EBDITA contributed  44.3 per cent. This is a pointer to the gravitas of  the Maharashtra - based pharma companies.