Cadila cares about changing the trajectory of health for all humanity. For us, this is a calling and not just a business. A calling, into which we have been steadily investing all our pioneering spirit, science, human ingenuity and knowledge for the past decades. Throughout the company’s history, we’ve been guided by the principles and personal example of our founder-chairman and his people-first approach.
Born on February 18, 1926, in a small village in Bharuch, Indravadan Ambalal Modi was on a mission to attain Swaraj (self-dependence) in healthcare for India. His compassion for the poor ignited his dream to make medicines affordable for all.
Shilaben Modi, the first employee of Cadila Laboratories, was a perennial source of inspiration to her husband, I. A.Modi. Her concern for people's well-being led to the manufacture of Cadila Gripe, the first indigenously produced gripe water in India.
I.A. Modi was not deterred by his resource constraints, he would ride over 40 km daily on his bicycle to visit doctors. At the age of 25, he was a producer, manager, administrator, accountant and delivery man – all rolled into one.
I.A. Modi's first step in the pharmaceutical world began with the establishment of Cadila Laboratories on March 13, 1952. One of the company's first products, Livirubra was a vitamin supplement in liquid form.
With the foundation of its first factory premises at Ghodasar, Cadila began a journey of unprecedented growth.
Committed to nation building, Shri I A Modi, worked tirelessly to coagulate the Indian pharmaceutical industry by championing the Indian Patents Act, 1970 and formulating the 1986 Drug Policy of the Govt. of India. His efforts to make necessary drugs available to the marginalized earned him the title of 'Medicine Man of India'.
Long before Corporate Social Resposibility had become a business mandate, Shri I A Modi instituted Kaka-Ba Hospital as a homage to his cousin Budh, who died of typhoid due to lack of medical facilities. This multi-speciality charity hospital provides free healthcare to thousands of impoverished lives.
In 1995, Cadila Laboratories was restructured and rechristened as Cadila Pharmaceuticals.
Cadila’s manufacturing capabilities grew from strength to strength with its state-of-the-art facilities.
Cadila established Ethiopia’s first WHO-cGMP compliant plant in Addis Ababa. It soon became an epicentre of multi-fold growth and development for Africa through enhanced investments.
Cadila developed pioneering first-in-the-world innovations for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and tuberculosis.
Polycap, Mycidac-C, Risorine, Rabeloc IV and Immuvac
Spreading the message of universal wellness, Cadila has expanded by diversifying into a host of industries.
Over the decades, Cadila has conquered countless milestones and has established itself as an integrated pharmaceutical company with presence across the entire life sciences value chain. The company that started its operations in a three-room apartment has transcended to a global brand that is empowered by over 8000 employees who endeavour to spread wellness in a million ways.