The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has announced the appointment of new office bearers for its CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization) Task Force, underscoring the growing strategic importance of the sector in India's pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem.

Manni Kantipudi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aragen Life Sciences, has been appointed as Chairman of the CII CRDMO Task Force, while Manoj Kumar R. Panicker, General Manager, South Asia, Cytiva, has been named Co-Chairman for the forthcoming term.

The appointments come at a time when India is increasingly being recognized as a preferred global destination for research, development, and manufacturing services, driven by its scientific talent pool, cost competitiveness, regulatory capabilities, and expanding innovation ecosystem.

According to CII, the CRDMO sector remains at the forefront of pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation, playing a critical role in supporting global drug discovery, development, and manufacturing programs. The sector has witnessed significant growth in recent years as multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies increasingly partner with Indian organizations to accelerate research and product development.

Under the leadership of Kantipudi and Panicker, the Task Force will focus on advancing policy dialogue, strengthening collaboration between industry and government, promoting innovation-led growth, and enhancing India's global competitiveness in the CRDMO space.

Industry stakeholders believe that the next phase of growth for the sector will be driven by investments in advanced research capabilities, emerging technologies, biologics, precision medicine, and integrated service offerings that span the entire drug development lifecycle.

The newly constituted leadership team is expected to work closely with policymakers, industry participants, academia, and research institutions to address key challenges and identify opportunities that can further strengthen India's position in the global pharmaceutical value chain.

As global pharmaceutical companies continue to diversify supply chains and seek strategic research and manufacturing partners, India's CRDMO industry is poised for accelerated expansion. The CII CRDMO Task Force is expected to play a key role in shaping this growth trajectory by fostering innovation, encouraging collaboration, and supporting policy initiatives that enhance the sector's long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

The industry body said it looks forward to a transformative term focused on enabling growth, improving capabilities, and reinforcing India's ambition of becoming a global CRDMO powerhouse.