Mega-Thread on Indian billionaire and the owner of Serum Institute of India (the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by the number of doses produced, 1.5 billion+)
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla
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Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla
Would appreciate a Retweet as it helps our mission to educate more investors.
1) Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla was born in a Parsi family in Pune in 1941.
2) His father was a horse breeder, and his family had old ties with India’s Racing Circuit through the Family’s Poonawalla Stud Farms.
3) Due to this Cyrus Poonawalla had a love for horses since early life.
2) His father was a horse breeder, and his family had old ties with India’s Racing Circuit through the Family’s Poonawalla Stud Farms.
3) Due to this Cyrus Poonawalla had a love for horses since early life.
4) But sooner he realized horse racing had no future in India, so he needed to explore other options.
5) He was fond of Jaguar cars, but couldn’t afford them at that time, thus he built one with his friend Don Patrick in 1960 and named it Cydon (Cyrus-Don).
5) He was fond of Jaguar cars, but couldn’t afford them at that time, thus he built one with his friend Don Patrick in 1960 and named it Cydon (Cyrus-Don).
6) He completed his graduation from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in 1966.
7) They thought to build a prototype for a sports car in India but realized that creating a product for the masses than for the elite would be a smarter move.
7) They thought to build a prototype for a sports car in India but realized that creating a product for the masses than for the elite would be a smarter move.
8) Later while working at his family’s stud farm Cyrus had a chance encounter with a veterinarian which led him into the world of vaccines.
9) During those days the farm's retired horses were donated to the government-owned Haffkine Institute which made vaccines from horse serum
9) During those days the farm's retired horses were donated to the government-owned Haffkine Institute which made vaccines from horse serum
10) Dr. Poonawalla figured he could take up the challenge of meeting the demand for vaccines by extracting the serum from horses himself.
11) Emerged an idea to create vaccines from horse serum, in order to create vaccines at a cheaper rate so they could reach the masses.
11) Emerged an idea to create vaccines from horse serum, in order to create vaccines at a cheaper rate so they could reach the masses.
12) Being a Commerce Graduate he went into Medicine and Life Science to create an impact.
13) He was awarded a Ph.D. in 1988 by the Pune University for his thesis entitled “Improved Technology in the Manufacture of Specific Anti-toxins and its Socio-Economic Impact on Society”.
13) He was awarded a Ph.D. in 1988 by the Pune University for his thesis entitled “Improved Technology in the Manufacture of Specific Anti-toxins and its Socio-Economic Impact on Society”.
14) The Serum Institute of India was founded by Dr. Poonawalla with his brother Zavary, and the very first serum was launched within just 2 years.
15) However, Cyrus’ journey to becoming India’s Vaccine King was not simple.
15) However, Cyrus’ journey to becoming India’s Vaccine King was not simple.
16) During its early years Poonawalla struggled to secure funding which he overcame by selling horses and raising USD 12,000.
17) Poonawalla had to overcome another obstacle in his quest for recognition.
17) Poonawalla had to overcome another obstacle in his quest for recognition.
18) His company began producing vaccines when India’s infrastructure and facilities were still lacking.
19) It was difficult for an entrepreneur from a developing country to break into the field of vaccine manufacture, which was dominated by Western businesses.
19) It was difficult for an entrepreneur from a developing country to break into the field of vaccine manufacture, which was dominated by Western businesses.
20) By 1974, the DTP vaccine was introduced to protect children from diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and in 1981, anti-snake venom was introduced for snake bites.
21) In 1989 Serum Institute began the production of its Measles Vaccine and within a year Serum Institute became the country's largest vaccine manufacturer.
22) In the 80s India was made self-sufficient for Tetanus and Whooping Cough vaccines thanks to the Serum Institute.
22) In the 80s India was made self-sufficient for Tetanus and Whooping Cough vaccines thanks to the Serum Institute.
23)Finally, all the hard work paid off in 1994 as Serum Institute was accredited by WHO.
24)By 1998 Serum Institute was exporting vaccines to over 100 countries and by 2000 one out of every two children in the world was vaccinated by a vaccine of Serum Institute of India.
24)By 1998 Serum Institute was exporting vaccines to over 100 countries and by 2000 one out of every two children in the world was vaccinated by a vaccine of Serum Institute of India.
25) In 2005, Cyrus Poonawalla was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of medicine and in the same year, he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Dr. Manmohan Singh PM of India at that time.
26) In 2019 he was granted the prestigious degree of “Doctorate of Science“ by the University of Oxford and he is the only person honored with this degree after Dr. Edward Jenm in the field of the vaccine.
27)He has also been nominated from India for the prestigious Nobel Prize
27)He has also been nominated from India for the prestigious Nobel Prize
28) The Serum Institute is the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by the number of doses produced, 1.5 billion+.
29)In the global vaccine manufacturing segment, Serum Institution has a 60% market share.
29)In the global vaccine manufacturing segment, Serum Institution has a 60% market share.
30) UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization rely on them for immunizations.
31) Exports account for 85 percent of the company’s revenue. The serum claims to be on track to become a $100 billion corporation very soon.
31) Exports account for 85 percent of the company’s revenue. The serum claims to be on track to become a $100 billion corporation very soon.
32) Dr. Poonawalla was married to the late Mrs. Villoo Poonawalla and has a son Adar.
33) Adar Poonawalla is now the chief executive officer (CEO) at the Serum Institute and is leading Serum's charge into new drugs and markets.
33) Adar Poonawalla is now the chief executive officer (CEO) at the Serum Institute and is leading Serum's charge into new drugs and markets.
34) Dr. Poonawalla has a passion for collecting cars and has a fascinating collection of sports cars and custom-built limousines
35) With a net worth of $13.2 billion, the 80-year-old Dr. Poonawalla is India’s 12th richest person and one of the World’s wealthiest businessmen.
35) With a net worth of $13.2 billion, the 80-year-old Dr. Poonawalla is India’s 12th richest person and one of the World’s wealthiest businessmen.
36) His efforts in building the Serum Institute of India have led to saving the lives of more than 3 Crore underprivileged children across the globe so far.
Would appreciate a Retweet as it helps our mission to educate more investors.
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