| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 220.77 Million |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 301.06 Million |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 6.40 % |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
India Preclinical CRO Market Analysis
The India Preclinical CRO Market size is estimated at USD 220.77 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 301.06 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.40% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
India's preclinical CRO market is positioned for significant growth, driven by increased research and development activities, expanded outsourcing of R&D functions, and rapid technological advancements.
The increasing research and development expenditure in life sciences and substantial public and private funding spending in the sector boosts market growth. For instance, in the 2023-2024 Union Budget, the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology allocated INR 40 billion (USD 427.20 million) to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). This significant funding increase reflects the country's growing focus on R&D. Consequently, rising R&D investments are expected to drive the adoption of preclinical CRO services, helping reduce overall drug development costs.
Additionally, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and diabetes is increasing, leading to a higher demand for innovative treatments. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are intensifying their R&D efforts to develop new drugs and medical devices. Preclinical CROs play a critical role in this process by conducting early-stage research, including animal studies and toxicity testing, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new compounds.
For instance, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) projected in October 2024 that the number of diabetes patients in India would reach 100 million by 2030, up from 77 million in 2023. This sharp increase highlights the urgent need for innovative therapies, prompting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to invest heavily in R&D. In this context, preclinical CROs are indispensable, offering expertise, advanced technologies, and regulatory support essential for developing new drugs and medical devices. Their role in early-stage research, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective solutions makes them key partners in addressing chronic diseases. Consequently, the increasing burden of chronic diseases, including diabetes, directly translates to a heightened demand for preclinical CRO services in the market.
Furthermore, drug discovery CROs are increasingly forming long-term strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, and other CROs. These collaborations, which include drug co-development, joint ventures, and preferred provider agreements, enable stakeholders to leverage each other's strengths and enhance their capabilities to provide extensive CRO services.
For instance, in May 2023, Aragen Life Sciences, an Indian contract research and development organization, partnered with FAR Biotech to advance preclinical programs in neurodegeneration. As part of this collaboration, Aragen utilized its discovery platform to support FAR's small molecule program targeting neurodegeneration. Such partnerships demonstrate the vital role of preclinical CROs in accelerating drug development and addressing the growing burden of chronic diseases, ultimately driving increased demand for their services in the market.
Therefore, the market is expected to grow due to increasing collaborations, rising R&D investments in the life sciences industry, and the growing prevalence of diabetes. However, challenges such as regulatory barriers and the industry-academia collaboration gap arelikely to hinder the market growth over the forecast period.
India Preclinical CRO Market Trends
Toxicity Studies Segment is Expected to Dominate the India Preclinical CRO Market during the Forecast Period
Toxicology testing involves assessing the potential adverse effects of chemical substances or pharmaceutical compounds on living organisms. It utilizes various methodologies to evaluate the safety profile of these substances, focusing on their potential toxicity or harm.
In the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical R&D sector, the demand for preclinical toxicology testing services provided by contract research organizations (CROs) is experiencing significant growth. This increase is driven by factors such as expanding collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and CROs, a rise in clinical trials, and technological advancements that enhance the efficiency and accuracy of toxicology testing processes.
Moreover, as CROs increasingly invest in upgrading their facilities, they're poised to enhance their capabilities in various bioanalytical tests, including toxicology, which, in turn, is expected to bolster the demand for toxicology services in the market. For instance, in February 2024, Sai Life Sciences, a prominent CRO-CDMO, unveiled an expansion of its facility. This expansion introduces 25,000 sq. ft. of advanced labs, outfitted with the latest instrumentation. This move underscores the company's dedication to delivering top-tier data and services, particularly in toxicology, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and other bioanalytical domains.
Similarly, in January 2023, Eurofins Scientific announced the establishment of a laboratory campus in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India. This facility is designed to support global and Indian pharmaceutical clients, as well as biotech companies, in key areas such as synthetic organic chemistry, analytical R&D, safety toxicology, and formulation R&D. This development reflects the growing focus on strengthening preclinical research infrastructure in India. The new campus demonstrates the expanding capabilities of Indian Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to deliver advanced and specialized services, driving demand and reinforcing their position in the preclinical research market.
Thus, continuous initiatives from the CROs to establish facilities and laboratories to enhance their service offerings are further anticipated to increase the demand for preclinical toxicology to deliver better molecules. Hence, the studied segment is anticipated to bolster the segment growth over the forecast period.
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Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Segment is Expected to Dominate the India Preclinical CRO Market during the Forecast Period
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies remain the primary consumers of preclinical contract research services. The Indian preclinical CRO industry is well-positioned to capitalize on factors such as the increasing need for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to reduce costs and time while enhancing efficiency and expertise in introducing new formulations to the market.
Additionally, companies are increasingly focusing on forming strategic alliances with contract research organizations to establish long-term partnerships and foster innovation. These collaborations often include preferred provider agreements, risk-sharing models, and joint drug or therapy development. For instance, in October 2023, Roche Pharma India introduced its "clinical trial excellence initiative," aimed at strengthening public health institutions' capabilities in conducting clinical trials and drug research across the country. To drive this initiative, Roche partnered with Quinary Clinical Research in India to provide clinical support.
Similarly, in August 2023, Parexel, a leading CRO, collaborated with Partex, an AI-driven biopharmaceutical company, to leverage AI-powered solutions for accelerating drug discovery and development. The partnership focuses on improving clinical trial execution through the Partex-validated AI platform, which complements and expands Parexel’s existing AI tools and capabilities. This collaboration highlights the growing integration of AI in preclinical R&D. It not only enhances Parexel's AI capabilities but also underscores the critical role of advanced technologies in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of preclinical research, further driving demand for innovative CRO services.
Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies worldwide, including those in India, are increasing their R&D investments, demonstrating a strong commitment to developing new drugs, therapies, and healthcare solutions. With these heightened R&D expenditures, companies are seeking specialized expertise at various stages of the drug development process. For instance, in fiscal year 2024, Cipla India allocated over 6.2% of its total revenue to R&D for new drugs, reflecting a slight increase from its 2022 fiscal year allocation. This trend of increased R&D efforts is driving demand for preclinical CROs in India. As pharmaceutical companies continue to prioritize the development of new treatments, the preclinical CRO market is poised for significant growth, providing essential support and expertise to advance drug discovery and development.
Thus, the growing emphasis on strategic partnerships and increased R&D investments from both international and domestic companies is expected to drive the demand for preclinical CRO services in India, contributing to the segment's growth.
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India Preclinical CRO Industry Overview
The market studied is semi-consolidated, owing to the presence of small and large market players in the India preclinical CRO market. The key players are focusing on collaborating with other CROs to accelerate the development of new drugs and therapies. Some market players are Jubilant Biosys, Eurofins Advinus, Syngene International Ltd., Vipragen and Dabur Research among others.
India Preclinical CRO Market Leaders
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Jubilant Biosys
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Eurofins Advinus
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Syngene International Ltd.
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Vipragen
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Dabur Research
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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India Preclinical CRO Market News
- March 2024: Veeda Clinical Research, an India-based contract research organization (CRO), has announced the successful acquisition of Heads, a European CRO with a focus on oncology trials.
- October 2023: CEBIS International, a Europe-based contract research organization specializing in drug development services, announced a strategic expansion into the North American and Indian markets. The company will provide a range of services including clinical research, preclinical testing, drug safety services, biostatistics, and software solutions.
India Preclinical CRO Industry Segmentation
As per the scope of the report, India preclinical clinical contract research organizations (CROs) specialize in ensuring a seamless procedure with reliable results for each test. Prior to entering clinical trials or being used for human care, preclinical CROs assist new medical product developers in demonstrating their products' safety and efficacy in live models that closely as possible the human anatomy.
The India preclinical CRO market is segmented by services and end users. By services, the market is segmented into toxicity studies, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies, scientific advisory services, in vivo pharmacology services, and others. The other service type includes quality assurance, biomarker analysis, and medical testing, among others. By end-user, the market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutes and research centers, and others. The other end-users include medical device companies, non-profit organizations, government and regulatory agencies, among others. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of revenue (USD).
| By Services | Toxicity Studies |
| Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Studies | |
| Scientific Advisory Services | |
| In Vivo Pharmacology Services | |
| Others (Quality Assurance, Biomarker Analysis, and Medical Testing) | |
| By End User | Pharmaceutical and Bioetchnology Companies |
| Academic Centers and Research Institutes | |
| Others (Medical Device Companies, Non-profit Organizations, Government and Regulatory Agencies) |
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India Preclinical CRO Market Research Faqs
How big is the India Preclinical CRO Market?
The India Preclinical CRO Market size is expected to reach USD 220.77 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 6.40% to reach USD 301.06 million by 2030.
What is the current India Preclinical CRO Market size?
In 2025, the India Preclinical CRO Market size is expected to reach USD 220.77 million.
Who are the key players in India Preclinical CRO Market?
Jubilant Biosys, Eurofins Advinus, Syngene International Ltd., Vipragen and Dabur Research are the major companies operating in the India Preclinical CRO Market.
What years does this India Preclinical CRO Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the India Preclinical CRO Market size was estimated at USD 206.64 million. The report covers the India Preclinical CRO Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the India Preclinical CRO Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
India Preclinical CRO Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 India Preclinical CRO market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. India Preclinical CRO analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
