For an entrepreneur survival could be the first step towards striking big in life but the thing which comes next to survival is consolidation which helps them remain steady on the path to greater achievements. And for Dr. Desh bandhu Gupta, Chairman, Lupin, survival and consolidation both have come naturally.

In fact, the pharmaceutical segment is one of the most competitive markets in the country today. The pharma majors are often seen engaged in the race for one-upmanship, which is very intense, and it is just a matter of time before the non-performers go down the business ladder. Lupin, headed by Dr. Desh bandhu Gupta, has established itself as one of the leading Indian pharmaceutical companies. The modus operandi of the company, under Dr. Gupta is characterized by frequent and ambitious forays into foreign markets.

An honorary Doctor of philosophy with a Master's degree in Chemistry, Dr. Gupta started his career as an academician teaching chemistry at Birla Institute of Science and Technology, Pilani in Rajasthan. After his teaching stint got terminated, he founded Lupin in 1968. Since then he has constantly been at the helm of affairs in the company. He has seen the company through many ups and downs and has been instrumental in steering the company towards the forefront of the Indian Pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Gupta has shown an ample measure of adeptness in striking difficult-looking deals. His special ability is cited by analysts as the salient reason behind the company's successful performance in foreign markets. Lupin's collaboration with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a leading global medical products company headquartered in the United States, has dramatically consolidated the company's fortunes.

The deal enabled Dr. Gupta's company to employ the services of the other farm in the distribution of Ceftriaxone (a new generation antibiotic) vials in the US. He has also entered into a separate agreement with Henry Schein Inc. for the sale of this product to offices of the physicians. The launch of this drug has significantly boosted Lupin's presence in the US generic market.

In recent years, Dr. Gupta has been spearheading the restructuring of Lupin's operations. The research and innovation programmes being his priority, he has also put in a considerable amount of effort in new drug research and new drug delivery systems.

Market observers have attributed Dr. Gupta's emphasis on research to his ambitions of overtaking pharma giants such as Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy's. Dr. Gupta himself is well aware of the fact that the company must be restructured first to rival the towering presence of those companies. That is why he has been trying hard to give the company a whole new look.

As a part of strategy, Dr. Gupta stepped down as the company's Managing Director and retained only the rank of the Chairman. He cited the difficulty to micro-manage the company as the reason behind his much-discussed stepping down. It is not difficult to understand that the move was actually aimed at successfully negotiating the ever-changing product patent laws. The appointment of an expert as the MD was nicely timed, with the primary's objectives having already fulfilled. Sure, for here is the man who draws strategy and gets the best out it.