I A Modi, Cadila Pharmaceuticals no more

I A Modi

Indravadan A Modi, founder and chairman, Cadila Pharmaceuticals passed away on November 26, aged 87, after a brief illness.

Considered a legend in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, Modi championed the Indian Patents Act, 1970 and also played a major role in giving shape to the 1986 Drug Policy of Government of India. He represented the National Working Group on Patent Laws, India (NWGPL) and Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) on the subject “Patent Regime” proposed in the Uruguay Round at Delhi 1993.

Modi launched Cadila Laboratories in 1951 as a partnership with school friend Ramanbhai B Patel. There was a parting of ways in 1995 and Cadila Pharmaceuticals came into being, while Patel went on to form Zydus.

Today, a Rs 1,000-crore closely held entity, Cadila Pharmaceuticals’ many milestones include Rabeprazole in IV form for upper GI bleeding, Polycap for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, Risorine with booted Rifampicin for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Modi was also one of the key promoters of the BV Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development Centre (PERD), Ahmedabad which has grown to be a forum for industry-academia interaction, offering a combination of pharma education, training and research.

Modi is survived by his wife, son (Dr Rajeev Modi, currently Managing Director of the company), daughter-in-law and grandson.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai