India, Oct. 31 -- Home to nearly 1.46 billion people in 2025, or 18 per cent of the global population, India bears a proportionately high share of the world's disease burden. In recent years, the country recorded 212 million diabetics, nearly 25 per cent of the global diabetic population, accounted for a quarter of global DALYs due to ischemic heart disease, 28 per cent of all TB cases, and 1.46 million new cancer cases (representing 4 per cent of global incidence), according to WHO data. These numbers underscore the urgent need for robust clinical research, both to meet domestic healthcare challenges and to contribute meaningfully to global drug development.

The Current State of Play

Despite its demographic and disease burden , India's...