"Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer" is a popular saying in the field of management and Dr K Anji Reddy, founder Chairman of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited is one of those rare entrepreneurs who have always believed in the flow of innovative ideas. It's therefore not surprising that today Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has become a premium institution for the development and manufacture of quality organic intermediates, bulk actives (API) and finished dosage forms. Innovations - a critical factor in the success of delivering affordable life-saving medicines to customers' worldwide, Dr Anji is among the very few entrepreneurs who have placed the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry on the world map.

A graduate in technology of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals from the University of Bombay and a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from National Chemical Laboratories, Pune, Dr. Reddy had mastered the art of process development and production of APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) before setting up his own enterprise. It has always been Dr Anji's mission to bring advanced medicines to the masses of India at affordable prices, which he achieved with aplomb. Not only this, the company over the years, has grown and spread across the globe in quality-conscious regulated markets like US, Europe, Japan to several developing countries.

In fact, it was Dr Anji's visionary initiative, which led to the foundation of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd and Cheminor Drugs Limited in 1984. These two companies were later merged and the combined entity-Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited-now covers the entire spectrum of pharmaceutical value chain - basic research, bulk actives, finished dosages, generics, biotechnology and diagnostics.

Known for his in-depth knowledge of international pharmaceutical business, Dr Anji was instrumental in making Dr. Reddy's the first organization in Indian Pharmaceutical Industry to take up the basic research. Using cutting edge technologies, the company has discovered breakthrough pharmaceutical solutions in the areas of diabetes, cancer and bacterial infections.  As of today, it has filed more than 64 patent applications with USPTO and has been granted 24 patents so far. The company under the stewardship of Dr Anji has also become the first Indian company to outlicense a molecule for clinical development with the licensing of its diabetes molecules - Balaglitazone and Ragaglitazar - to the world leader in diabetes - Novo Nordisk.

Commercially, its success could be measured from the fact that it's the first non-Japanese Asia Pacific pharmaceutical company to be listed on the NYSE. In recognition of his exemplary contribution to society and in the field of medicine, Dr. Anji Reddy has been conferred with several awards including Manager of the year 1987 Award, FAPA-Ishidate Award, Achiever of the year award, Pragna Puraskar, Padmashri Award and Businessman of the Year award. A known philanthropist, Dr Reddy always believes in giving to the society more than he owes it. And without saying, it's people like him who have done so much to the society that they have made this world a better place to live in.