Drugmakers face the threat of serious disruption to production if China’s coronavirus lockdown persists and cuts off supplies of Chinese-made essential ingredients, the head of a big Indian pharmaceuticals group has warned.

Umang Vohra, managing director and global chief executive of Cipla, one of India’s largest drugmakers, said supplies for most companies would start running out by the end of this month unless China resumed production at its factories.

China produces key ingredients in the global supply chain for antibiotics, diabetes drugs, painkillers and antiretrovirals for HIV, although its vital role in pharmaceuticals is less well known than its production of technology, machinery and consumer goods.