Roche Pharma India has successfully completed the first phase of its Advanced Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance programme. The initiative engaged 10 leading government hospitals across the country and trained nearly 400 professionals—including investigators, ethics committee members, and support staff—in global Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.

The hospitals involved include AIIMS Rishikesh, Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, PGIMS Rohtak, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Center in Muzaffarpur, Balco Medical Centre in Raipur, Government Medical College in Aurangabad, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital in Lucknow, and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer in Cuttack.

India accounts for about 17 per cent of the global population and carries nearly 20 per cent of the global disease burden. However, fewer than 4 per cent of international clinical trials are conducted in the country. This gap often delays patient access to innovative therapies after they are approved globally.

Launched in 2023, the AIR initiative has focused on streamlining hospital processes, enhancing digital readiness for data capture and monitoring, and offering tailored training to strengthen clinical trial operations. It supports the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization’s goal of expanding government participation in Phase 3 and Phase 4 studies. The programme also aligns with the Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Policy, which aims to build stronger industry–academia–government partnerships and strengthen India’s global competitiveness in clinical research.

Dr. Sivabalan Sivanesan, Country Medical Director at Roche Pharma India, said the initiative is equipping government hospitals with the tools needed to conduct world-class clinical trials, helping to accelerate access to cutting-edge treatments for Indian patients.

Clinicians and ethics committee members from participating hospitals have reported significant improvements in their capacity to conduct advanced clinical studies, noting stronger compliance, faster monitoring, and better patient representation.

With this milestone, Roche Pharma India aims to strengthen equitable healthcare delivery and ensure that Indian patients are more quickly included in the global cycle of innovation and evidence generation.