Cipla’s respiratory push: Sets up diagnostic centre in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities next

Cipla’s respiratory push: Sets up diagnostic centre in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities next

Cipla, India’s respiratory market leader, is doubling down on its lung-care strategy, as air pollution emerges as a huge health concern in large parts of the country.

The company wants to provide a high-quality diagnostic setup, create awareness and provide solutions, Cipla’s global chief operating officer (COO) Achin Gupta told Moneycontrol on November 27, a day before the firm launched a Breathefree Lung Wellness Centre in Delhi.

“We realised there is a need gap for a very high-quality comprehensive diagnostic setup because the earlier you diagnose, better is the treatment and lower is the long-term burden on the patient and society,” Gupta, who is set to take over as the managing director & global CEO in April, said.

The first-of-its-kind facility aims to integrate diagnostics, patient education, clinician training and real-world research under one roof, a move described by Gupta as “a pioneering initiative to bridge a critical care gap”.

“This centre will help diagnose not just asthma and COPD but a whole variety of conditions linked to respiratory health,” he added, referring to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a progressive, largely irreversible lung disease that causes airflow limitation, which makes breathing difficult.

Gupta will assume the title of MD & global CEO-designate from January 1, as part of the leadership transition following the end of CEO Umang Vohra’s tenure.

India faces a staggering respiratory disease burden—an estimated 100 million people suffer from lung conditions, yet only about 10 percent receive proper treatment, according to Gupta.

Pollution is a major contributor but not the only one. “The incidence of respiratory conditions is very widespread,” he said.

The Delhi centre spans several thousand square feet and offers advanced diagnostics such as spirometry, oscillometry, nitric oxide measurement (FeNO), Diffusing Capacity for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO), phlegmography (estimate breathing volume and effort continuously), Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET), X-ray, CT scans, sleep apnea tests, and six-minute walk tests.

The facility would also serve as a training hub for clinicians and technicians, addressing a critical skills gap in respiratory care.

Expansion blueprint

Cipla plans to replicate the model in other metros. “Delhi was first. The next one will most likely be Mumbai,” Gupta said. “We want to learn from this experience and then incorporate that in future centres.”

Despite Cipla’s dominance in inhalation therapy, stigma around inhaler use remains a major hurdle.

Gupta outlined a three-tier challenge: low diagnosis rates, poor treatment quality, and weak adherence.

“We’ve been propagating through our ‘Berok Zindagi’ campaign to remove the taboo,” he said. “Inhalers deliver medicine directly to the lungs with fewer side effects compared to oral routes.”

The Indian Pharmaceutical Market’s Respiratory segment reached Rs 18,520 crore Moving Annual Turnover (MAT) in October, growing at a 9 percent five-year CAGR. MAT refers to total sales over the past 12 months.

Cipla has around a quarter of the market share in the respiratory segment, with anti-asthma and COPD molecules such as Levosalbutamol + Ipratropium, Budesonide, and Salbutamol dominating the market.

Innovation pipeline

Cipla is pushing the envelope in respiratory innovation. Gupta talked highlighted products such as SynchroBreathe, a breath-actuated inhaler improving drug delivery, multi-dose dry powder inhalers with triple combination therapy and Spirofy, a handheld spirometry device, which enables general physicians to diagnose respiratory issues.

Cipla has also come out with digital tools like CipAir, a mobile application designed to enable timely and convenient first line of screening for asthma in India.

The company is launching inhaled insulin, leveraging inhalation as a delivery route beyond respiratory care.

“We want to be an end-to-end player — create awareness, help diagnostics, provide solutions, and rehab support,” Gupta said. “Innovation in whatever shape and form that can help the patient is our focus.”

Cipla is also exploring biosimilars, mRNA collaborations, and monoclonal antibody partnerships to strengthen its respiratory portfolio. “We are looking at all possible approaches—some we innovate ourselves, some through partnerships,” Gupta said.

Cipla recently overtook Abbott to become India’s second-largest pharma company by market share. Gupta attributes this to a patient-centric strategy focused on chronic therapies, diabetes, and weight management. “India is a very big focus market for us,” he said. “We’re already number one by volumes, but there’s still a lot more we can do.”