Padma Bhushan For CEO Of Shantha Biotechnics

LokVani - Ranjani Saigal: "K. Varaprasad Reddy, CEO of Shantha Biotechnics, was awarded the coveted Padma Bhushan award on January 26, 2005 as the nation celebrated the 55th Republic day. Reddy co-founded Shantha Biotechnics Private Limited with Boston Group Chairman and CEO Mr. Subu Kota in 1992 with an objective of developing recombinant based therapeutic proteins for human health care. The mission is to produce most cost effective drugs to reach the common man at an affordable price keeping International quality standards.

Shanta Biotechnics is the brain child of Mr. Subu Kota, Chairman and CEO of the Boston Group. Shantha was something Kota created in response to a personal tragedy, when he lost his brother to Hepatitis-B.

Shanta Biotechnics has achieved pioneer status in developing and commercializing a recombinant DNA-based human healthcare product - the Hepatitis-B vaccine - in India. Today, Shantha is a leading supplier to many of the larger drug firms in the U.S. Shanta also helps in the phase trials of drugs for U.S. Pharma firms, as an established contract research organization (CRO).Kota emphasizes that while Shanta is a very successful business, the company places a great emphasis on giving back to community.

While the award ceremony was a proud moment for Shanta, it was an equally proud moment for the biotech and life sciences industry as a whole. The Indian government has thrust the biotechnology sector to the forefront by bestowing eight of the top honors to members of this industry. The other awardees from this sector are, Bhai Mohan Singh (Padma Vibhushan-founder of Ranbaxy), Dr Martanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan (Padma Vibhushan- Chitra tilting disc valve developer), Y K Hamied (Pamda Bhushan- founder, CIPLA), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Padma Bhushan-Biocon), Prof V S Ramamurthy, Secretary, Dept of S&T (Padma Bhushan), Azim Premji of Wipro (Padma Bhushan), Cyrus S Poonawalla (Padma Shri- Serum Institute). Never in the history of these coveted awards has a small section of the industry grabbed the entire limelight. Indications are that this Rs 3,200 crore industry is set to break the $1 billion mark this year."