Alivus Life Sciences Analysis: How Union Budget 2026 Accelerates API and CDMO Growth

Union Budget 2026 has introduced a transformative roadmap for the Indian pharmaceutical sector, specifically targeting the high-value segments of Biopharmaceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). For Alivus Life Sciences Ltd (formerly Glenmark Life Sciences), a leading player in the API space with a growing footprint in Contract Development and Manufacturing Operations (CDMO), the budget announcements provide a significant tailwind for its next phase of expansion.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s introduction of the Biopharma Shakti initiative, with an outlay of 10,000 crore over five years, signals a strategic shift toward domestic production of biologics and biosimilars. This policy environment is expected to benefit Alivus as it leverages its robust R&D capabilities and expanding manufacturing base in Solapur and Ankleshwar.

Biopharma Shakti: A Catalyst for Advanced Manufacturing

The cornerstone of the 2026 Budget for the healthcare sector is the Biopharma Shakti scheme. With a 10,000 crore allocation, the government aims to develop India into a global biopharma manufacturing hub. For Alivus Life Sciences, which reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue of 673 crore in Q3 FY26, this initiative aligns with its strategy to move up the value chain.

The budget also proposes the establishment of three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and the upgrading of seven existing ones. This focus on human capital and research infrastructure will likely provide Alivus with a steady pipeline of skilled talent to support its high-potent API portfolio, which currently represents a total addressable market (TAM) of 61 billion.

Strengthening the CDMO Ecosystem

Alivus has been vocal about its ambition to increase its CDMO revenue share from the current 6-7% to approximately 12-15% over the next few years. Union Budget 2026 supports this transition through several measures:

• Safe Harbor Margins: The budget proposes a common safe harbor margin of 15.5% for information technology and contract R&D services. This provides tax certainty for Alivus’s CDMO projects.
• Fast-Track Approvals: Strengthening the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) with dedicated scientific reviewers is intended to meet global approval timeframes. For a company with over 595 Drug Master File (DMF) and CEP filings, faster regulatory processing directly translates to quicker market entry for new molecules.

Infrastructure and Chemical Park Incentives

The government’s plan to support states in establishing dedicated chemical parks through a cluster-based plug-and-play model is a major positive for Alivus. The company is currently in an intensive investment phase, with a revised CAPEX guidance of 450 crore for FY26.

The Solapur facility, expected to come online in Q4 FY26, and brownfield expansions in Ankleshwar and Dahej, will benefit from the broader push for industrial corridors. The budget's focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as growth centers matches Alivus's operational footprint in Solapur and Maharashtra.

Taxation and Fiscal Impact

The Union Budget 2026 introduced the Income Tax Act 2025, effective from April 1, 2026. Key changes impacting Alivus include:

• MAT Rate Reduction: The Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) rate has been reduced from 15% to 14%. As a highly profitable entity with a PAT margin of 22.3% in Q3 FY26, this reduction will improve the company's cash flow position.
• MAT Credit Set-off: The budget allows the set-off of brought-forward MAT credit in the new tax regime to the extent of one-fourth of the tax liability. This provides a structured pathway for Alivus to optimize its tax outgo as it transitions to the simplified tax framework.

Customs Duty Rationalization for Healthcare

To provide relief to patients and boost domestic availability, the budget exempted basic customs duty on 17 cancer drugs and added 7 more rare diseases to the exemption list. While Alivus is primarily an API manufacturer, the increased focus on oncology and chronic therapies (CVS and CNS) aligns with its core therapeutic mix. Chronic therapies currently contribute 66% to Alivus's top line, and any policy that increases the affordability and volume of these treatments in the domestic market is a long-term positive for API suppliers.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

Following the budget, investor sentiment toward Alivus Life Sciences remains positive, supported by the company's debt-free balance sheet and strong cash equivalents of 733 crore. The management's guidance of mid-teens volume growth for FY26 appears more achievable under the new policy framework. The focus on "API Plus" services—offering regulatory and analytical support—is further bolstered by the budget's emphasis on digital governance and AI-driven compliance.

Conclusion

Union Budget 2026 acts as a force multiplier for Alivus Life Sciences. By addressing structural needs through the Biopharma Shakti scheme and providing fiscal relief through MAT reductions, the budget enables Alivus to pursue its brownfield and greenfield expansions with greater confidence. As the Solapur plant begins operations in early 2026, the company is well-positioned to capture the growing demand in regulated markets like Europe and Japan, supported by a pro-growth domestic policy environment.