Dr Reddy's founder K Anji Reddy dies at 72

K Anji Reddy, the founder and Chairman of nation's second-largest drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, died today.

Reddy, who founded DRL in 1984, was ailing for some time, a company statement said. He was 72.

He died of liver cancer at 3.45 pm at the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad.

Many in the industry saw in him a drug discovery pioneer. Dr Reddy set up his R&D facility at what was once his farm.

A chemical engineer who also served as a member on Prime Minister's Council on Trade & Industry, Reddy is survived by wife Samrajyam, daughter Anuradha and son K Satish Reddy, who is the managing director and COO of the company. His son-in-law G V Prasad is the Vice Chairman and CEO of the company.

In April 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest Civilian Awards in India, recognising his distinguished service of high order in the field of Trade and Industry.

Reddy spearheaded and founded the Neo-natal Intensive Care and Emergencies called 'NICE Foundation', the only institute for new-borns in Asia.

In 1998, Reddy set up Naandi Foundation for proving safe drinking water in rural areas. The foundation gives midday meals to 1.3 million government school-going children and farmers, a DRL statement said.

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