Sanofi India's managing director is moving on after an eventful innings that saw the company re-orient operations, moving out of certain non-strategic areas to focus on core therapies. Pre-pandemic early digital adoption appears to have played out well too for the French group’s listed Indian arm.

More C-Suite level pharma executives are lending their domain expertise to private equity firms, which then use their skills for commercial due diligence on targets or in an operating partner role in portfolio companies once a deal is sealed. PEs are also increasingly opting for control deals, at least in India, with an aim to run the acquired firm professionally thereon.

Most roads led to India in 2020 when it came to deals to expand access to COVID-19 therapies, but the challenging year also saw significant private equity interest and there are expectations of more action ahead in the new year.

Hetero launches cut-price version of Gilead’s Biktarvy in India but 20 other India-based firms also hold licenses for the product. Gilead is entitled to a “modest royalty” on products produced under the voluntary license.