Early Life
Habil Khorakiwala was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, in 1942, into a prominent Dawoodi Bohra family. His father, Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala, founded Akbarallys, India's first chain of departmental stores. Khorakiwala's early life was rooted in a strong entrepreneurial environment, setting the stage for his future endeavors.
Rise to Success
After graduating with a degree in pharmacy from L.M. College in Ahmedabad and completing a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Purdue University, Khorakiwala took over his father's Worli Chemical Works in 1967. He renamed it Wockhardt, marking the beginning of his independent venture. Under his leadership, Wockhardt grew from a small firm into a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.
Key Business Strategies
Khorakiwala focused on strategic acquisitions, expanding Wockhardt's footprint in Europe and the United States. A key strategy was investing in research and development, particularly in antibiotics, to combat antimicrobial resistance. The company launched several innovative products, including India's first pain management combination drug (PROXYVON) and recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (BIOVAC-B).
Philanthropy
Khorakiwala established the Wockhardt Foundation, which runs numerous medical and social programs. The foundation's initiatives include mobile healthcare vans providing free consultations and medicines, impacting millions of lives. He supports the integration of artificial intelligence in drug discovery to accelerate the development of treatments.
