Shree Koduru Ishwara Varaprasad Reddy is an Indian entrepreneur and Founder of vaccine manufacturing company Shantha Biotechnics. He established Shantha Biotechnies Ltd. in 1993. Shantha Biotechnies Ltd made the country's first indigenously developed recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine, Shanvac-B, was launched in the country in 1997. Amazingly, the man (Varaprasad Reddy) who led this revolution of producing affordable vaccines was not even a biotechnologist but an electronics engineer.

HIS Contribution to Healthcare Landscape in India ;

Varaprasad Reddy attended a WHO conference in Geneva where he heard some critical remarks about India not being able of developing a vaccine for Hepatitis B. The disease kills around 350,000 people every year in the country. He was not pleased with what he heard and started Shantha Biotechnics Ltd with a mission to produce cost-effective vaccines that would be available for the common man while still maintaining international quality standards.

Laurels Brought to Shree K. I. Varaprasad Reddy ;

* Conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2005.

* Conferred Honorary Doctorate by Sri Venkateshwara University.

* Conferred Honorary Doctorate by Gitam University.

* Conferred Honorary Doctorate by Vignan University.

Impact Brought in the Lives of Common Indians ;

The path-breaking contribution of Varaprasad Reddy is initiating efficacious and cost-effective vaccines, within the reach of the common man in India.

His contribution in the field of biotechnology is immense, which made India self-reliant in terms of vaccine production. He has inspired people to work towards realising their dreams for their countries.