Parikh stood out in the industry by his efforts to back original research with strict quality standards in a discipline not known for it. Under his leadership, Zandu became the first Indian company to get an investigational new drug application- an application to test a completely new drug- approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.
The drug code-named HP-200 and indicated for Parkinson's Disease has already commenced collaborative clinical trials in the US through a Joint Development Agreement with international partners.
"Parikh's life reads like a story of supreme dedication to Ayurveda. With his death, Parikh has left a rich legacy of ayurvedic knowledge with its application as an alternative medicine," said an official statement.
Parikh's demise comes at a time when cracks have surfaced in the relationship between the two promoter families - the Vaidyas and the Parikhs- and has left a question mark not just on succession but also the future of the company.
