Pharmaceutical entrepreneurs Abhinav Garg and Mehak Aggarwal, a husband-wife duo, have launched their book 'Killing Cancer: 13 Secrets of the High-Stakes Drug Manufacturing World' at a press conference in Chandigarh. Drawing from extensive experience in oncology drug manufacturing, the book provides an unprecedented look into the complex and often misunderstood world of pharmaceutical production.
Book Structure and Key Themes
The book is structured around 13 chapters covering regulatory compliance, supply chain resilience, entrepreneurship, quality systems, manufacturing failures, and leadership in highly regulated industries. According to Abhinav Garg, the book aims to highlight the realities of pharma manufacturing, emphasizing that a drug license is just the starting point, not the finish line.
"Most people think a drug license is the finish line. In reality, it's just the starting point. WHO GMP compliance must be maintained, not merely obtained. Every supplier needs approval and validation. SOPs, stability studies, annual product reviews, and market-specific regulatory dossiers become routine. Even minor process changes can trigger re-validation. As a pharma business scales, regulatory demands intensify," said Abhinav.
Bridging Perception and Reality
The authors noted that 'Killing Cancer' is not a technical manual but a collection of practical insights for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, healthcare practitioners, regulators, and the public. Mehak Aggarwal explained that the book was born from a desire to bridge the gap between public perception and manufacturing realities.
"People see medicines as products, but rarely understand the chain of decisions, regulations, failures and human judgment that produces them. We felt a responsibility to document this world honestly—not to celebrate it or sensationalize it, but to make it understandable. There is no other book quite like this written by practitioners from inside the industry," said Mehak.
Focus on Life-Saving Drugs
The book devotes considerable attention to the unique demands of manufacturing life-saving drugs, where the margin for error is exceptionally small. Abhinav emphasized that every decision inside a pharmaceutical plant connects invisibly to a patient at the end of the supply chain. "When you genuinely understand that reality, it changes how you approach quality, leadership, compliance, and even business decisions," he added.
Mehak shared her unconventional journey from fashion and modelling into pharmaceutical manufacturing. "The transition taught me the difference between perception and reality. In fashion, perception is the product. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, reality is the product and it is completely unforgiving. Entering this industry as a woman and an outsider meant earning credibility through competence and consistency," she said.
India's Role in Global Healthcare
The authors highlighted India's growing influence in global healthcare, noting that India supplies nearly one-fifth of global generic medicine exports. They emphasized the importance of manufacturing hubs such as Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. "As the industry evolves towards complex generics, biosimilars, and personalized medicine, we need leaders who understand both science and business. We hope this book contributes to that conversation," said Abhinav.
The book is dedicated to the authors' daughter, Kaashvi, symbolizing their hope for a safer, stronger, and more accountable healthcare ecosystem for future generations.
