Early Life
Habil Khorakiwala was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1942, into a Dawoodi Bohra family. His father, Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala, founded the Akbarallys retail chain and was also the former Sheriff of Mumbai.
Rise to Success
Khorakiwala's journey began after he graduated with a pharmacy degree from L.M. College in Ahmedabad and later earned a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Science from Purdue University, USA. He also attended the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. In 1967, he founded Wockhardt, transforming it from a small firm into a leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology conglomerate.
Key Business Strategies
Under Khorakiwala's leadership, Wockhardt expanded its operations globally, focusing on research and development. The company has multiple manufacturing facilities and research centers. Key innovations include the launch of PROXYVON, India's first pain management combination drug, and BIOVAC-B, the country's first recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
Philanthropy
Khorakiwala has been actively involved in philanthropic initiatives through the Wockhardt Foundation. The foundation has touched the lives of millions through its various medical and social programs. He has also been appointed as the Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University.