Biotech startup that scripted phenomenal success story
From a 15-member startup, including the founders themselves, Bharat Biotech has grown into a global biotechnology leader with over 4,000 employees, overcoming countless challenges along the way
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Visakhapatnam: When Dr Krishna Ella and Dr Suchitra Ella founded Bharat Biotech in 1996, they left behind promising careers in the United States to pursue a bold vision in India. At a time when Hyderabad’s biotechnology landscape was still in its infancy, they set up the first company in Turkapally, planting the seeds of what would become a thriving innovation hub.
Driven by his belief in science-led development, Dr Krishna Ella proposed to the then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh the idea of a dedicated, non- polluting industrial cluster. That vision became Genome Valley, Asia’s largest life sciences cluster, earning him the title father of Genome Valley.
From a 15-member startup, including the founders themselves, Bharat Biotech has grown into a global biotechnology leader with over 4,000 employees, overcoming countless challenges along the way.
“Right from the inception, we knew that building a successful biotech company was about more than just science or infrastructure. It was about the people who would make it all possible. Our vision was to strengthen India’s capabilities in biotechnology and vaccine development, and to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s self-reliance in public health. We also understood early on that achieving this would require nurturing talent across every function, from clinical research to manufacturing, quality assurance, and data science. We focused on creating a learning environment where everyone, whether in research and development or logistics, could grow in their roles and contribute to a shared mission, ”Dr Suchitra, Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, told Bizz Buzz.
The launch of Bharat Biotech’s first vaccine, Revac B+ in 1998, was a scientific breakthrough resulting from continuous skill development and the determination of a small, committed team. Growing from a single laboratory to a global footprint, and from a startup to a diversified enterprise with international impact, the Ella couple’s journey has been driven by perseverance, growth, and a clear sense of purpose. Dr Suchitra gives credit to the workforces, who believed in a mission larger than themselves.
She remarks ‘for us, it was never just about hiring employees, it was about bringing in people who would become part of Bharat’s family, ready to take on challenges and grow,” she recalls.
From humble beginnings, the firm now offers a diverse portfolio of more than 19 vaccines and 4 biotherapeutics, registered in over 125 countries and delivered over 9 billion vaccine doses worldwide.
