Early Life
Vikram Singh Punia was born in Jaipur, India, in 1973. He came from a family with a wealthy background. In 1992, at the age of 19, he arrived in Irkutsk, Russia, through a student exchange program, to study medicine.
Rise to Success
Punia started his business journey by reselling goods like tea, leather jackets, and pantyhose. He later transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, founding Pharmasyntez in 1997 in Irkutsk. The company initially repackaged generic antitubercular medicine imported from India. Over time, Pharmasyntez expanded, establishing multiple factories across Russia and producing a wide array of medicines. In 2008, Punia moved the company's headquarters to Moscow. In 2009, he became a Russian citizen and, in 2010, became the sole owner of Pharmasyntez.
Key Business Strategies
Pharmasyntez focused on producing high-quality, affordable medicines for critical diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV, and cancer. The company also played a role in producing the Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vikram Punia emphasized import substitution, replacing imported drugs with Russian-made alternatives, and pursued vertical integration, encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and distribution.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropy amounts are unavailable, Pharmasyntez focuses on providing affordable medicines for critical diseases.