Yusuf Hamied

Yusuf Khwaja Hamied
Born	(1936-07-25) July 25, 1936 Vilnius, Poland (now Lithuania)
Occupation(s)	Scientist, entrepreneur
Known for	Chairman of Cipla, generic pharmaceuticals, affordable AIDS medication

Yusuf Khwaja Hamied (born 25 July 1936) is an Indian scientist, billionaire entrepreneur, and the chairman of Cipla, a generic pharmaceuticals firm established by his father Khwaja Abdul Hamied in 1935. He holds the distinction of being an elected fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.

Early life

Hamied was born in Vilnius, which at the time was part of Poland (now Lithuania), and grew up in Bombay (present-day Mumbai). His father was an Indian Muslim, while his mother, Luba Derczanska, was a Russophone Lithuanian Jew; they met while studying at university in pre-war Berlin. Hamied received his early education at the Cathedral and John Connon School and St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. In 1954, he relocated to England where he completed both a BA and PhD in chemistry at Christ's College, Cambridge. To this day, he refers to his Cambridge chemistry notebooks when designing new drug synthesis methods.

Career

Globally acknowledged for confronting Western pharmaceutical corporations, Hamied has championed the availability of affordable generic antiretroviral medications and treatments targeting diseases prevalent in impoverished nations. His leadership has been pivotal in fighting AIDS across developing countries by ensuring access to essential medicines irrespective of patients' financial means, earning him recognition akin to a contemporary Robin Hood.

In 1961, he initiated the formation of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, playing a key role in advocating for the 1970 Indian Patents Act, which restricted patents to drug manufacturing processes rather than chemical compounds. Hamied has expressed his philosophy: "I don't want to make money off these diseases which cause the whole fabric of society to crumble." A 2011 feature by The New York Times underscored his influence in slashing AIDS medication prices from $1 per day to just 20 cents, thereby broadening treatment coverage from slightly above 2,000 individuals in 2001 to more than six million.

Hamied was instrumental in developing fixed-dose combination pills for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, asthma, and other illnesses common in developing regions. He also promoted pediatric drug formulations and boosted India's capacity for producing bulk drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), greatly enhancing medicine availability and safety standards.

As a significant patron of Cambridge University, Hamied financed the Yusuf Hamied Centre at Christ's College in 2009, which features a bronze sculpture by alumnus Anthony Smith. The college supports a Todd-Hamied Fellowship in chemistry and renamed its historic 1702 Chair of Chemistry as the Yusuf Hamied 1702 Chair in 2018 to honor both Hamied and Nobel laureate Alexander R. Todd, who supervised Hamied’s doctoral studies. In 2020, his generous contribution led to the establishment of the Hamied Scholars Programme and resulted in renaming the department as the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry through 2050. Furthermore, Hamied and the Cipla Foundation donated Rs 20 crore to IISER Pune for constructing a cutting-edge chemistry facility designed to support outreach initiatives.

Hamied’s life and work have been extensively covered by prominent international media outlets such as The New York Times, Time, The Guardian, Le Monde, The Economist, Financial Times, The Times (London), Corriere della Sera, Der Spiegel, and Wired. He has also appeared on major television networks including ABC News, BBC, CNN, and CBS's 60 Minutes. After leading Cipla as managing director for over five decades, he announced his retirement intentions in 2013. That same year, Forbes ranked him among India’s wealthiest individuals.

Awards and recognition

In 2005, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan, which is the third highest civilian award bestowed by the Government of India. In 2012, Hamied earned the title of CNN-News18 Indian of the Year in the business category for his efforts in challenging global pharmaceutical giants and making vital medications affordable in developing nations. The following year, NDTV recognized him as one of India's "25 Greatest Global Living Legends." Additionally, the Harvard Business School's Creating Emerging Markets initiative featured him, highlighting his approach to delivering AIDS therapies and other essential medicines to marginalized communities.

Media

The 2013 documentary Fire in the Blood spotlights Hamied’s role in broadening access to antiretroviral drugs across Africa. His strategy was commended by India Today, which emphasized his commitment to prioritizing life-saving treatments over profits by defying conventional industry practices to offer affordable medication.

Personal life

Hamied is married to Farida; they do not have children and maintain residences in both London and Mumbai. His younger sibling, M. K. Hamied, holds the position of non-executive vice-chairman at Cipla. Among M. K. Hamied’s three children is Samina Vaziralli, who is being prepared to take on leadership roles within Cipla.

According to Forbes estimates from May 2021, Hamied's net worth stood at approximately US$3.3 billion. By October 2024, Forbes ranked Yusuf Hamied and his family as the 53rd wealthiest individuals in India, with a net worth valued at $5.7 billion.