Kallam Anji Reddy, one of the giant’s of Indian pharma and founder Chairman of the $1.6 billion Dr Reddy’s Laboratories passed away today in Hyderabad.

The 73 year old, first generation entrepreneur, who built Dr Reddy’s Laboratories into a global entity has been ailing for sometime. He breathed his last in the Apollo Hospitals.

A Padma bhushan, Anji Reddy is survived by wife and two children. His son, Satish Reddy is the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Daughter, Anuradha heads the Dr Reddy’s Foundation. His son-in-law, G.V Prasad is the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Anji Reddy has been instrumental in developing drugs that were affordable to the common man and pushed down prices in the domestic as well as international market. The company under his stewardship fought several battles against MNC’s to get their generic versions into the US market.

Starting with a small outlay of Rs 25 lakhs in 1984, Anji Reddy, strived hard against several odds and steered it to a billion dollar company in just under 25 years. In a highly successful career, he put Dr Reddy’s and Hyderabad, the bulk drug capital of India on the international map.

He was also a philanthropist and his contributions played a significant part in establishing the LV Prasad Eye Institute as a leading institute. Anji Reddy was a strong votary of indigenous research. The Reddy’s laboratories has one of the highest spend on R&D. The company has come up with several molecules in diabetes research and oncology that promise big developments.

>Naga.gunturi@thehindu.co.in

>Somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

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