Founded in 1980 by K. K. Agrawal and Sanjiv Garg, HAB Pharmaceuticals & Research Ltd. was conceived to improve access to affordable, quality medicines in underserved regions of India.
In an exclusive conversation with Times Today, the stakeholders, K.K. Agrawal, Saurabh Agrawal, Sanjiv Garg and Urvee Garg share how the journey began with operations in Vasai, Maharashtra, due to the gaps in pharmaceutical availability in rural and semi-urban markets.
HAB Pharmaceuticals first established its in-house research and development capabilities as early as 1991. At present, the company operates WHO-GMP certified manufacturing facilities in Mumbai and Dehradun. Over the years, they have expanded from manufacturing generic formulations for local use to serving international markets, exporting to more than 35 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
According to K.K Agrawal, the focus is on regulatory compliance, product innovation, and scalable drug delivery systems. With ISO 9001 certification and a portfolio of over 200 SKUs across generics and specialty products, the company operates with a patient-first approach while catering to diverse global healthcare needs.
From Times Today exclusive:
Interviewer: As a key figure since the company’s inception, how have you navigated the evolving pharmaceutical landscape in India and globally, and what personal philosophy has guided your leadership over the decades?
K.K. Agrawal (MD): “When we started HAB Pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical industry in India was just finding its footing. I’ve always believed that healthcare is not a privilege but a basic right. That belief has guided every decision we’ve taken over the decades. The journey hasn’t always been easy. We’ve had to constantly adapt. But through all of it, the one thing that remained unchanged is our commitment to making quality medicines affordable and accessible. Personally, I’ve always led with patience, persistence, and purpose. I stay grounded in the belief that trust is built slowly, one patient, one partner, and one product at a time. It’s never been about being the biggest. We wanted to be the most reliable. And that’s what I’ve always tried to instil across the organisation.”
A Competitive Edge
There are several factors that set HAB Pharmaceuticals apart in the pharma industry. One of the USPs is prioritising customer requirements and applying quality control across sourcing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, and distribution to ensure product safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance.
Research at the company is centred on patient-friendly drug delivery, high-value molecules, and affordable formulations.
The company is developing oral jellies, fixed-dose combinations, metered-dose inhalers and sustained-release forms to improve adherence for pediatric, geriatric and chronic care patients. Its pipeline targets globally relevant drugs such as semaglutide, tofacitinib, posaconazole and sitagliptin-dapagliflozin combinations.
The vision is to produce cost-effective alternatives to complex therapies and to prepare dossiers, bioequivalence data, and stability studies that meet stringent international standards.
Interviewer: How do you identify untapped opportunities or gaps in the pharmaceutical market, and what is your process for turning those insights into business action?
Saurabh Agrawal (Director): “For me, identifying opportunities starts with one simple habit of listening. I spend a lot of time on the ground, talking to our distributors, doctors, patients, and even our internal teams. It’s in these conversations that you hear what’s missing in terms of how people experience healthcare. Sometimes, the biggest gaps are not in the molecules but in accessibility, affordability, or even packaging.
Once we notice a pattern or an unmet need, the next step is to validate it through data, field insights, and market research. But I also believe in trusting intuition backed by experience. Some of our best decisions have come from spotting everyday pain points that others overlooked. From there, it’s about getting our R&D, manufacturing, and regulatory teams to collaborate quickly and purposefully. We’re fortunate at HAB Pharmaceuticals to have a team that’s agile and committed. At the heart of it, our process is human because healthcare is human. We ask what people need. That mindset has helped us stay ahead without losing our purpose.”
The Flagship Products
The flagship products include anti-infective, cardiovascular, diabetes, CNS, respiratory, dermatology, and nutraceutical segments. The anti-infective and antifungal formulations are used to support the timely treatment of acute and chronic infections, particularly in underserved regions.
The cardiovascular and diabetes products are widely used for long-term disease management due to their consistent quality and affordability. CNS therapies, including antidepressants and antiepileptics, are crucial in expanding access to essential mental health and neurological treatments. Likewise, the respiratory inhalation products help control asthma and COPD, while dermatology and nutraceutical products help with skin conditions and nutritional deficiencies.
International Regulatory Approvals
HAB Pharmaceuticals has expanded internationally through regulatory approvals and GMP certifications in 35-plus countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya, Myanmar and Uzbekistan, with an export portfolio of 400+ products across 13 therapeutic categories.
To sustain this growth, the company relies on long-term distribution and marketing partnerships, participation in trade exhibitions and government tenders, and an in-house regulatory team that prepares CTD dossiers, stability, and bioequivalence studies to secure approvals and supply continuity.
Interviewer: HAB Pharmaceuticals has seen rapid international expansion. What key challenges have you faced in entering new markets, and how have you overcome them?
Sanjiv Garg (Director): “Expanding has been both rewarding and challenging. Each country has its own regulatory frameworks, cultural nuances, and market expectations. One of the biggest challenges we faced early on was building trust in regions where HAB Pharmaceuticals was a new name. Regulatory approvals often took time, and every market demanded a tailored approach in how we positioned our products and communicated our values.
What helped us overcome these hurdles was our unwavering focus on quality and consistency. We never took shortcuts. Whether it was developing CTD dossiers, investing in stability studies, or adjusting packaging to local preferences. Over time, that created credibility.
Personally, I believe relationships matter just as much as compliance. I’ve spent countless hours understanding our partners’ concerns, visiting markets firsthand, and listening more than speaking. That human connection has opened more doors than any strategy on paper could. Today, I see our products available across continents. It’s a proud reminder that staying true to our values, being patient, and putting people first always pays off.”
The CSR initiatives
So far, HAB Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Tarun Mitra Mandal to sponsor one of Mumbai’s largest blood and stem cell drives in Chinchpokli. In July 2024, the drive involved 50 hospitals, including KEM and Hinduja, and collected over 5,000 blood units and 200,000 ml of plasma and stem cells while running an eye-donation awareness campaign.
Under the “Spreading Smiles” initiative, HAB Pharmaceuticals supports diabetes screening for underserved girls in Mumbai slums with endocrinologist Dr. Nadeem Rais, providing funding and essential medicines.
Moreover, the company donates approximately 10,000 eye drops each year and provides financial support to Vivekananda Netralaya Eye Hospital in Dehradun to improve regional eye care. They also partner with the Jai Vakeel Autism Centre to fund language, social, and sensory therapies for children with autism. Their other initiatives include running meal and hydration drives, distributing nutritious vegetarian meals in Nalasopara and cold buttermilk in Sion, and operating a food truck serving families at Tata Memorial Hospital.
Interviewer: What trends in global drug demand or therapeutic innovation are you currently most excited about, and how is HAB Pharmaceuticals positioning itself in response?
Urvee Garg (Vice President): “What excites me the most right now is the growing shift toward personalised and preventive care. People are no longer just looking for treatment; they’re looking for wellness, for control over their own health journeys. We’re seeing rising demand in areas like nutraceuticals, hormonal therapies, mental health, and even cosmeceuticals, all of which align closely with how today’s patients think and live.
At HAB Pharmaceuticals, we’re responding to this shift with intention. We’re investing in advanced drug delivery systems that not only improve efficacy but also make medicine easier to take and more consistent in results. We’re also expanding our presence in specialty care segments, which include dermatology, CNS, and lifestyle-related therapies. But what truly excites me is the human impact. Innovation is about improving the quality of life. Every time we launch a formulation that’s more affordable, easier to use, or more effective, it means someone, somewhere, is living better. That’s a powerful motivator, and it’s why we do what we do.”
A New Dawn
Within the next few years, the plan is to expand the international footprint and scale exports in regulated and semi-regulated markets.
The company will also invest in R&D to advance formulation-led innovation and develop differentiated delivery systems with a growing emphasis on diabetes, cardiovascular, CNS, and other chronic therapies. Other plans include improving manufacturing capacity and diversifying into cosmeceuticals and nutritional supplements to address growing interest in wellness and preventive healthcare.
