10 Emerging Biotech Startups from India Transforming Global Health

India's biotechnology landscape is witnessing a quiet revolution. From the bustling labs of Bengaluru to the shores of Goa, a new wave of startups is transforming how we tackle disease, feed the world, and care for the planet. We tracked down ten of the most promising players rewriting the rules in healthcare, sustainability, and diagnostics—each with a unique story to tell.

Here’s a closer look at the innovators pushing Indian biotech into the global spotlight.

Tucked between Bengaluru and Chennai, Bugworks is doing what many big pharma companies have walked away from—building new antibiotics. Under the leadership of Dr. Anand Anandkumar, the company is developing GYROX, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that targets both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In a world increasingly losing its fight against superbugs, that’s no small feat. What sets Bugworks apart is its global validation. Backers include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CARB-X, a key global initiative to fight antibiotic resistance.

And while most early-stage companies struggle to get noticed, Bugworks already has working ties with regulators in the U.S. and Japan. Interestingly, they’re not stopping at antibiotics. The team is now eyeing immuno-oncology as a new frontier, positioning itself as a long-term player in the critical care space.

Imagine turning methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than CO₂, into something useful. That’s exactly what Bengaluru-based String Bio is doing. Led by Dr. Ezhil Subbian, the company has developed a unique fermentation platform that transforms methane into high-quality protein. Their work doesn’t just appeal to environmentalists; companies like Shell and several agritech players have already partnered with String Bio, seeing the promise in everything from livestock feed to sustainable agriculture.

Recently, the company expanded into the alternative protein space. With growing global demand for clean food, their methane-based protein could soon be a staple in food chains worldwide, offering a sustainable solution in a protein-hungry world

Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of vision loss in older adults, and currently, there’s no real cure. That’s where Eyestem Research steps in. Based in Bengaluru and led by Dr. Jogin Desai, the company is developing Eyecyte-RPE, a stem cell-based therapy designed to replace the damaged cells in the eye’s retina. The therapy has passed crucial preclinical milestones and is now entering early human trials. If successful, it could offer a lifeline to millions. Supported by Endiya Partners and Kotak Private Equity, Eyestem stands as one of India’s earliest and most promising cell therapy startups. Their ambition? To put India on the map in regenerative ophthalmology.

At first glance, the idea of printing human tissues might sound like science fiction. But at Pandorum Technologies, it’s a scientific fact. Co-founded by Dr. Tuhin Bhowmick and based in Bengaluru, the company has created functional 3D-printed liver miniatures used in drug testing by pharma companies. But liver tissue is just the beginning. Pandorum is also developing bioengineered corneal tissue, aiming to address corneal blindness, a major cause of preventable vision loss. There’s even talk of using their regenerative matrices to treat battlefield injuries—part of an exploratory partnership with the defense sector.

From their base in Bengaluru, Sea6 Energy is doing something extraordinary—taming the sea to fuel the land. Using custom-built “ocean tractors,” they harvest seaweed in open waters and convert it into biostimulants for crops and biofuels for clean energy. Their agricultural products, like AgriBiotech, are already being used across Asia to boost crop yield and reduce chemical fertilizer use. CEO Dr. Satya Chandran and his team have created a scalable model of marine biotechnology that’s both eco-friendly and commercially viable.

Backed by major players like Temasek and Tata, Sea6 is proving that some of the world’s best solutions might just come from the ocean.

CAR-T therapy is one of the most revolutionary cancer treatments of our time—but it’s also one of the most expensive, often priced well above ₹3 crore per patient abroad. Immuneel Therapeutics, co-founded by Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Dr. Rahul Purwar, has a mission to make CAR-T therapy affordable and accessible in India. Clinical trials for B-cell cancers are currently in progress, and experts indicate that the initial signs are promising.

If successful, this could be a game-changer, offering Indian patients cutting-edge, personalized cancer treatment at a fraction of the global cost.

Headquartered in Bengaluru and led by CEO Dr. Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues, Zumutor is designing monoclonal antibodies that do more than just detect cancer, they trigger the immune system to destroy it. Their lead candidate, ZM008, is being developed for prostate cancer and focuses on activating natural killer (NK) cells.

The company holds several patents for its antibody scaffold technologies and operates both in India and the U.S., giving it a truly global footprint. With over $20 million in funding, Zumutor is positioning itself as a key player in the next generation of precision oncology.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Molbio Diagnostics’ Truenat platform proved to be a lifesaver. Compact, battery-operated, and WHO-approved, Truenat enabled real-time RT-PCR testing even in rural clinics. Now, the Goa-based company, under CEO Sriram Natarajan, is expanding Truenat to test for diseases like TB, dengue, and even antimicrobial resistance. Their diagnostics work is now deeply integrated with public health programs and state-level disease surveillance.

In essence, Molbio is bringing high-tech diagnostics to places that need them most—and helping build stronger, smarter public health systems in the process.

After being acquired by Laurus Labs, Richcore Lifesciences rebranded as Laurus Bio and has since become one of India’s leaders in synthetic biology. CEO Dr. Subramani Ramakrishnan is guiding the company as it produces high-grade recombinant proteins, enzymes, and bioingredients. A big part of their work supports the emerging cultivated meat sector, where animal-free growth factors are key. Their scalable fermentation platforms are also used in vaccines, biologics, and specially food industries.

If synthetic biology is the future, Laurus Bio is helping India get there one clean molecule at a time.

 While not your typical wet-lab biotech firm, Tata MD has carved out a unique space at the intersection of diagnostics, data science, and AI. CEO Girish Krishnamurthy and his team developed several cutting-edge COVID testing kits, including CRISPR-based solutions.

Now, Tata MD is focusing on AI-powered hospital diagnostics  platforms that help clinicians make faster, smarter decisions. Think of it as biotech meets Big Data, tailored for the Indian healthcare system.

Their work hints at a future where diagnosis isn’t just about lab results, but also about patterns, probabilities, and predictive insights.

The Road Ahead

Each of these companies is tackling a different piece of the healthcare puzzle whether it’s fighting infectious diseases, revolutionizing diagnostics, improving food security, or taking on cancer. And what’s remarkable is how global their ambitions are, even as they’re rooted in Indian innovation.

As India strengthens its position in the global biotech economy, bolstered by G20 leadership, digital health initiatives, and increased investment in life sciences, these ten players demonstrate that world-class science doesn’t have to come with a Silicon Valley price tag. As Dr. Sanjana Iyer, a global health policy advisor, puts it:
“India’s biotech innovators are not just catching up they’re setting the pace for affordable, scalable science in the developing world.”

We’ll be keeping an eye on them and so should you.

By Samruddhi Pawar, M. Tech Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

_MSM/DP