Yusuf Hamied

Biography of Yusuf Hamied

Early Life and Education

Yusuf Hamied

Yusuf Khwaja Hamied was born on July 25, 1936, in Vilnius, Lithuania. He is the son of Khwaja Abdul Hamied, the founder of Cipla, and Luba Hamied, a Jewish-Lithuanian woman. Hamied moved to India with his family and grew up in Mumbai. He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai and later went to the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where he earned a PhD in chemistry.

Career

Yusuf Hamied joined Cipla in 1960, a company founded by his father in 1935. Under his leadership, Cipla became a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly known for its role in making affordable generic drugs available to developing countries.

Affordable Medicines

Hamied is renowned for his efforts to provide low-cost antiretroviral drugs to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. In 2001, he announced that Cipla would offer a triple-drug antiretroviral therapy for $350 per patient per year, a fraction of the cost charged by Western pharmaceutical companies.

Innovations and Contributions

Hamied has been a vocal advocate for patent reform and the need for affordable medicines. He has also been involved in the development of generic drugs for other diseases, including cancer and hepatitis.

Philanthropy

Yusuf Hamied has contributed to various educational and healthcare initiatives. He has supported the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and the University of Cambridge, among others. His philanthropic efforts are focused on improving access to education and healthcare in India and other developing countries.

Awards and Recognition

Hamied has received numerous awards for his contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and public health. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2005. He has also been recognized by various international organizations for his efforts to make medicines affordable.

Legacy

Yusuf Hamied's work has had a significant impact on global health, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS. His commitment to affordable healthcare has inspired many in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.

Related Pages

• Cipla
• HIV/AIDS
• Generic drug
• Patent reform