Anji Reddy is one of the rare breed who dared to walk along the unchartered way. From a young scientist in the state-owned Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL) to the architect of one of the premier domestic pharmaceutical companies in the making, he had a clear, long-term vision throughout the journey.
While the scientist in Reddy could always see the full scope of the work before him, the entrepreneur in him sought to make most of the opportunities ahead of him without being usurped or swayed by any short-term temptations and comforts.
Unlike a typical pension-happy public sector employee who longs to retire from the same organisation he joined years ago, when Reddy called it a day after a six-year stint at IDPL, he, indeed, had other ideas.
The innate strength, which made him visualise opportunities in the drugs and pharmaceutical sector as an entrepreneur as early as in the seventies and early eighties when others of his time dared not to see an alternative to public sector, has driven him to the level where his is now.
Considered as a doyen in the Indian pharmaceutical industry for his role in bringing medicines at prices affordable to the average Indian and then in entering the drug discovery field, which was the sole property of MNCs until recently.
The founder and chairman of Dr Reddy's Laboratories has always worked towards building his organisation on a strong foundation to withstand any immediate or medium-term challenges.
That's how the company, under his stewardship, has grown from a producer of the existing formulations through alternate chemical processes to become one of the very few integrated pharma players in the country, encompassing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), formulations, biotech and basic research.
The company's initiatives in R&D and biotech research had transformed the image of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, which till then was a mere clever 'copycat', into a more respectable global pharmaceutical player.
Dr Reddy's had started its drug discovery programme in 1993 and, within three years, it achieved its first breakthrough by outlicensing an anti-diabetes molecule to Novo Nordisk in March 1997.
Typically, Dr Reddy's never thought of acquisitions just for the sake of image-building "" for the company, there were only a means to keep the organisation growing bigger and bigger.
The company's image was being built by the strengths that it was achieving from its diverse and all-pervasive works and performance. There have been several examples of the foresight that the company, under
Reddy, has shown during its journey to place itself on the global map.
The company got the US FDA approvals for all its facilities at a time when many others did not even think of going in for the certification.
And this mirrored the long-term perspective of the company on the drug and pharma business.
The recent acquisition of Germany's betapharm, which is the biggest ever overseas bid by an Indian pharmaceutical firm thus far, is the third feather in Dr Reddy's cap.
Earlier acquisitions too were aimed at European companies. But, why the company resorted to this extravagant deal, which is not going to bring any new manufacturing facility into the company's fold?
According to the who's who at the Dr Reddy's campus, the buyout is in line with the company's increased focus on becoming a true pharma giant, from its present Rs 1,947-crore turnover level.
Having reached the second position in the sector with the latest acquisition surpassing Cipla, Dr Reddy's is now aiming at becoming the numero uno, which Ranbaxy currently enjoys.
Founded in 1984, Dr Reddy's now manufactures and markets API (bulk activities), finished dosages and biologics in over 100 countries worldwide, in addition to its drug discovery agenda.
Though always striving for excellence and reaching the zenith, Reddy always desires to remain in touch with his roots and care for the people in need.
The activities of Dr Reddy's involving corporate social responsibility represent this particular angle in his personality.
In a philanthropic gesture, Reddy founded a couple of non-profit organisations that are focused on alleviating urban poverty and providing primary education for children from underprivileged groups.
