What SAI Life Sciences does

SAI Life Sciences Limited is an India-headquartered Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) founded in 1999 in Hyderabad and listed on BSE and NSE since December 2024. The company provides integrated drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services across small molecules and newer modalities (antibody-drug conjugates, peptides, oligonucleotides, and lipids) to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovators, serving 19 of the top 25 global pharma companies and a broader base of 300+ innovator pharma and biotech clients across the US, UK, EU, and Japan. The company's core products span Integrated Drug Discovery (medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, toxicology, in vivo pharmacology), Drug Substance Development (process development, analytical development, process engineering, particle science, developability), Drug Substance Manufacturing (clinical and commercial scale API manufacturing at Bidar), and Formulation Services (NCE formulation, clinical supplies), all delivered through co-located multidisciplinary teams that create an 'innovation corridor' for real-time collaboration.

SAI's technology stack is differentiated by proprietary platforms including High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) for microscale screening with full traceability, commercial-scale photo flow chemistry at the Bidar API site, biocatalyst screening, particle science and solid-state characterization, and AI-driven retrosynthetic analysis integrated via partnership with Chemical.AI. The company employs over 3,400 scientists and professionals across India, the UK, and the US, with key sites in Hyderabad (integrated R&D campus), Bidar (API manufacturing), Manchester (process R&D), and Boston/Cambridge (discovery biology). Capacity expansion is underway with the new CMC Process R&D Center at Hyderabad (completion September 2026) doubling process R&D capacity and adding peptide and oligonucleotide capabilities, alongside a new Medicinal Chemistry block inaugurated in May 2026.

The business model is B2B professional services under quote-based contracts tailored to client program scope, following a 'follow-the-molecule' approach that captures revenue from discovery through commercial manufacturing. FY26 revenue was ₹2,241.62 crore (~$267M USD), growing 29% YoY, with EBITDA up 56% and PAT up 105%. Revenue mix has shifted toward large pharma clients (from 28% to 49% over four years), with management guiding 15-20% annual growth and steady-state EBITDA margins of 28-30%. The company is led by founder-MD & CEO Krishna Kanumuri (joined 2004) with senior leadership spanning former executives from Merck Research Labs, Novartis, Dana-Farber, GSK, and Agios.

Name

SAI Life Sciences

Legal name

Sai Life Sciences Limited

Website

https://sailife.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SAI Life Sciences is an India-headquartered CRDMO providing integrated drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services across small molecules and new modalities (ADCs, peptides, oligonucleotides) to 19 of the top 25 global pharma companies and 300+ biotech innovators across the US, UK, EU, and Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA), Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM), Regulatory Strategy & Global Submissions (IND/CTA/NDA/BLA/MAA) (HLAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Contract research manufacturing
• Drug discovery services
• API manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical development
• CRDMO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing (CRDMO) Services: Sai Life Sciences operates as a CRDMO providing integrated services across the drug development continuum. Revenue is generated through service contracts spanning discovery services (medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, toxicology), drug substance development, drug substance manufacturing (clinical and commercial scale API manufacturing), and formulations development. The company follows a 'follow-the-molecule' model where it partners with pharmaceutical innovators from discovery through commercial manufacturing, providing long-term revenue visibility. The company reported strong growth with FY26 revenue of ₹2,241.62 crore (29% YoY growth), EBITDA up 56% and PAT up 105-109%.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sai Life Sciences operates as a Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), providing integrated drug discovery, drug substance development, drug substance manufacturing, and formulation services across small molecules and new modalities (antibody-drug conjugates, peptides, oligonucleotides, lipids). The company partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovators on a "follow-the-molecule" basis, advancing programs from target validation and medicinal chemistry through process development, scale-up, clinical supplies, and commercial API manufacturing.

Product overview

Sai Life Sciences is a Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) offering an integrated platform spanning drug discovery through commercial manufacturing. The core offering comprises Discovery Services (Integrated Drug Discovery/IDD, CADD & Structural Biology, DMPK, In Vitro/In Vivo Biology, Safety & Toxicology, Synthetic & Medicinal Chemistry), Drug Substance Development (Process Development, Analytical Development, Process Engineering, Particle Science, Developability), Drug Substance Manufacturing, and Formulation Services. The company has expanded into New Modalities including Antibody-Drug Conjugates, Peptides, Oligonucleotides, and Lipids. Advanced technology platforms include High-Throughput Experimentation, Flow Chemistry, Photochemistry, and AI-driven retrosynthesis. Recent capacity additions include the new CMC Process R&D Center in Hyderabad and commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities in Bidar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue from large pharma clients nearly doubled from 28% to 49% over four years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Chemical.AIsupportingTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2026Collaboration to integrate AI-driven computer-aided synthesis design into Discovery Chemistry operations. AI-driven retrosynthetic analysis applied to ML-generated compounds, accelerating route design and improving synthetic efficiency.
• MabtechcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 January 2026Strategic collaboration establishing Sai's Boston laboratory as US execution and demonstration hub for Mabtech's EYRA multiplex immunology platform. Enables joint delivery of high-sensitivity multiplex cytokine and phenotyping workflows for biopharma and biotech clients in immuno-oncology, vaccines, inflammation, and cellular therapy. Includes co-branded demonstrations, pilot programs, shared thought leadership and case study development.
• Sankalp NGOminorOthers · 8 November 2025CSR partnership for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program across ten government schools in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Reached 3,400 children, trained over 100 teachers, and engaged community groups.
• Agility Life Sciences and Centrix Pharma SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Integrated CMC Partnership announced to accelerate drug development for innovators. The partnership combines process development, manufacturing, and regulatory expertise across the three organizations to provide seamless end-to-end CMC services.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Syngene International: India-headquartered CRDMO offering integrated drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services to global pharma and biotech. Syngene is the closest comparable to SAI given overlapping integrated discovery-to-manufacturing scope, large-pharma customer base, and India cost-arbitrage positioning.
• Piramal Pharma Solutions: India-based CDMO offering drug substance and drug product development and manufacturing across small molecules and biologics. Directly comparable to SAI in API manufacturing, ADC capabilities, and integrated development services for global pharma clients.
• Laurus Labs: Indian API and CDMO company providing contract development and manufacturing services for small molecules. Comparable to SAI's API manufacturing, process development, and emerging new-modality exposure, with a similar India-cost-arbitrage customer value proposition.
• Divi's Laboratories: India-based API manufacturer and custom synthesis provider serving global pharma, with strong capabilities in complex small molecules and peptides. Comparable to SAI in API manufacturing scale, India footprint, and global pharma customer base.
• Jubilant Biosys (Jubilant Pharmova): India-based drug discovery and development services arm of Jubilant Pharmova, offering medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, and integrated discovery services to global pharma. Comparable to SAI's discovery services portfolio and India cost-arbitrage positioning with overlapping customer base.

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec: Largest global CRDMO offering end-to-end discovery, development, and manufacturing services across small molecules, biologics, and new modalities. Comparable to SAI in integrated service scope but operates at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint; serves as the incumbent whose position SAI is positioned to capture share from under the China+1 narrative.
• Lonza Group: Global CDMO leader across small molecules, biologics, and cell and gene therapy with deep expertise in new modalities including ADCs, peptides, and oligonucleotides. Comparable to SAI in new-modality capabilities and large-pharma customer base, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (CDMO/PPD): Global CRO/CDMO through PPD offering integrated clinical research, biologics manufacturing, and pharma services. Comparable to SAI in serving large-pharma customers across the development lifecycle, with much larger scale, full clinical CRO capabilities, and broader therapeutic area coverage.

Others

• Catalent (Novo Holdings): Global CDMO offering drug substance, drug product, and biologics development and manufacturing services. Comparable to SAI in formulation, clinical supply, and commercial manufacturing services for large pharma, with significantly larger scale and broader modality coverage.

Regional players

• Suzhou Synthgene (China): China-based CRDMO offering gene synthesis, protein production, and peptide synthesis services primarily serving Asia-Pacific and global biotech clients. Comparable to SAI in peptide and new-modality capabilities but primarily serves a different geographic customer base, positioning it as a regional alternative rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xsailife.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43cc41346410e3df1948ff23f&id=740e965623&e=f1c9800099
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SaiLifeSciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/sailifesciences.ltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/121109
• Instagraminstagram.com/sailifesciences

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAI Life Sciences