Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied is a gifted entrepreneur of the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Apart from being an accomplished scientist, he combines great business acumen and intellect to strike the right balance between business considerations and social and humanitarian goals. He is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Cipla Limited, which is renowned both locally and internationally for its high standards, quality, efficacy and affordability of medicines.
Born on 25 th July 1936 , Dr. Hamied obtained Ph.D in Organic Chemistry from Cambridge University. In the same year, he joined Cipla as a Research Officer. He was appointed as its Managing Director in 1976 and Chairman in the year 1989.
Dr. Hamied has been primarily responsible in the introduction, for the first time in India, of over 30 bulk drugs and their formulations. He is considered a pioneer of bulk drug industry in India and has a number of research papers and international patents to his credit. From a humble beginning, Cipla under the guidance of Dr. Hamied is now ranked as a leader in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. The company's turnover in 2004-2005 has exceeded Rs. 2300 crores of which 40% is exports. Cipla today manufactures and markets a wide range of medicines not only for the local market but also for export to 150 countries worldwide.
Dr. Hamied has pioneered and led the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Cipla was the first to offer the triple drug cocktail, Triomune, that can transform the life of an HIV positive patient at a fraction of the international cost. He had been instrumental in setting up a palliative care for cancer patients in Pune during the 1990's. This centre follows a unique family care modal, which offers free of cost, comfort and care to terminally ill cancer patients.
The recognitions received by Cipla under the leadership of Dr. Y. K. Hamied include two Chemexcil Awards for exports (1979 and 1982), Sir P. C. Ray Award for development of indigenous technology (1983) and a National Award from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for successful commercialization of publicly funded R & D was conferred on Dr. Hamied. In 2002, he received another Lifetime Achievement award from Express Pharma Pulse. Dr. Hamied was elected a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge , UK in 2004.
About the Owner
Khwaja Abdul Hamied, the founder of Cipla, was born on October 31, 1898. The fire of nationalism was kindled in him when he was 15 as he witnessed a wanton act of colonial highhandedness. The fire was to blaze within him right through his life.
In college, he found Chemistry fascinating. He set sail for Europe in 1924 and got admission in Berlin University as a research student of "The Technology of Barium Compounds". He earned his doctorate three years later.
In October 1927, during the long voyage from Europe to India, he drew up great plans for the future. He wrote: "No modern industry could have been possible without the help of such centres of research work where men are engaged in compelling nature to yield her secrets to the ruthless search of an investigating chemist." His plan found many supporters but no financiers. However, Dr Hamied was determined to being "a small wheel, no matter how small, than be a cog in a big wheel."
Cipla is born
In 1935, he set up The Chemical, Industrial & Pharmaceutical Laboratories, which came to be popularly known as Cipla. He gave the company all his patent and proprietary formulas for several drugs and medicines, without charging any royalty. On August 17, 1935, Cipla was registered as a public limited company with an authorised capital of Rs 6 lakhs.
The search for suitable premises ended at 289, Bellasis Road (the present corporate office) where a small bungalow with a few rooms was taken on lease for 20 years for Rs 350 a month.
Cipla was officially opened on September 22, 1937 when the first products were ready for the market. The Sunday Standard wrote: "The birth of Cipla which was launched into the world by Dr K A Hamied will be a red letter day in the annals of Bombay Industries. The first city in India can now boast of a concern, which will supersede all existing firms in the magnitude of its operations. India has lagged behind in the march of science but she is now awakening from her lethargy. The new company has mapped out an ambitious programme and with intelligent direction and skillful production bids fair to establish a great reputation in the East. "
July 4, 1939 was a red-letter day for Cipla, when the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, honoured the factory with a visit. He was "delighted to visit this Indian enterprise", he noted later. From the time Cipla came to the aid of the nation gasping for essential medicines during the Second World War, the company has been among the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry in India.
On October 31, 1939, the books showed an alltime high loss of Rs 67,935. That was the last time the company ever recorded a deficit.
In 1942, Dr Hamied's blueprint for a technical industrial research institute was accepted by the government and led to the birth of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is today the apex research body in the country.
In 1944, the company bought the premises at Bombay Central and decided to put up a "first class modern pharmaceutical works and laboratory." It was also decided to acquire land and buildings at Vikhroli. With severe import restrictions hampering production, the company decided to commence manufacturing the basic chemicals required for pharmaceuticals.
In 1946, Cipla's product for hypertension, Serpinoid , was exported to the American Roland Corporation, to the tune of Rs 8 lakhs. Five years later, the company entered into an agreement with a Swiss firm for manufacturing foromycene.
Dr Yusuf Hamied, the founder's son, returned with a doctorate in chemistry from Cambridge and joined Cipla as an officer in charge of research and development in 1960.
In 1961, the Vikhroli factory started manufacturing diosgenin. This heralded the manufacture of several steroids and hormones derived from diosgeni
Happenings / News / Press Coverage
Piramal Healthcare Acquires "i-pill", a Leading Emergency Contraceptive Brand from Cipla
Mumbai, March 23, 2010: Piramal Healthcare Limited [NSE: PIRHEALTH, BSE: 500302] (“Piramal”) and Cipla Limited [NSE: CIPLA, BSE: 500087] (“Cipla”) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for purchase of all intellectual property rights in India related to "i-pill" for an aggregate consideration of Rs 95 crore.
"i-pill" features in the top-300 pharmaceutical products and recorded sales of Rs. 31 crore for the previous 12 months as per data from ORG IMS. The acquisition of "i-pill" strengthens Piramal's over the counter (OTC) portfolio which has strong consumer brands such as Lacto Calamine skin care range, Supractiv Complete, Saridon and Polycrol antacid.
Commenting on the transaction, Dr. (Mrs.) Swati A. Piramal, Executive Director - Strategic Alliances & Communications, Piramal Healthcare Ltd. said, “At Piramal Healthcare, propelled by our core values of Knowledge, Action and Care, we are devoted to making a real difference to our consumers' lives by enabling informed choices. i-pill magnifies the indomitable spirit of the new Indian woman who is resilient in the face of every adversity. It empowers Indian women to remain in control of their future without resorting to emotionally and medically stressful alternatives like abortion."
Commenting on the sale of “i-pill”, Mr. Amar Lulla , Joint Managing Director, Cipla Ltd. said, “In 2007, we had created “i-pill” which is currently India 's No. 1 OTC emergency contraceptive brand. Our decision to divest the brand is driven by our current domestic product portfolio focused on prescription drugs. We are pleased that another Indian healthcare company with a strong OTC portfolio has bought the brand and are confident that Piramal Healthcare will successfully accelerate the future growth of the brand.”
“i-pill” is an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) used to prevent unplanned pregnancy and is available over the counter at local chemists. It is not an abortion pill. “i-pill” contains Levonorgestrel, a progestogen which helps prevent unwanted pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. "i-pill” has no long term or serious side effects and is safe to use for almost all women except those who are allergic to Levonorgestrel.
“i-pill” has been instrumental in building awareness about the emergency contraceptive pill category in India .
The OTC market in India is estimated to be around US $1.8 billion and is growing annually at 18%. Piramal Healthcare has been an active player in the OTC space in the last few years with a strong distribution reach covering both chemists and general stores. Commenting on the OTC market, Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Healthcare Ltd. noted that, “We believe the OTC segment is still in its nascent stages in India and presents us with high growth opportunities. In particular the ECP segment which is approximately a Rs 100 crores industry and has grown by 250% in the last two years".
Kotak Investment Banking acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Cipla for this transaction.
About Cipla Incorporated in 1935, Cipla is the No. 1 pharmaceutical com pany in India as per ORG-IMS. Cipla is exporting its products to over 170 countries worldwide. With approximately 150 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and more than 1600 formulation products in its portfolio, the Company offers a wide range of products across all the major therapeutic categories. The Company owns and operates 19 manufacturing facilit
Aim / Vision / Mission
We use the latest in pharmaceutical technology to tunnel over seven decades of experience into one capsule that cures,one drop that defends and one puff that protect.We explore every drugs to its last particle and instill safe and sure healing to create one does of confidence.For us,the final measure of our success is a simple curve- the smile of health regained.
Team / Manpower
Board of Directors
Founder Dr. K.A. Hamied (1898-1972)
Chairman & Managing Director Dr. Y.K. Hamied
Joint Managing Directors Mr. M.K. Hamied Mr. Amar Lulla
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. V.C. Kotwal Dr. H.R. Manchanda Mr. S.A.A. Pinto Mr. M.R. Raghavan Mr. Ramesh Shroff Mr. Pankaj Patel
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