Newly appointed Foreign Office minister Seema Malhotra has lauded the fast-growing Indian pharma company Brown & Burk for its long-standing contribution to Britain’s pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.
During her address as the special guest of honour at the generic drug maker’s 25th anniversary celebration in London last Saturday (6), she described Brown & Burk as an “important bridge” between Britain and India.“I think what we have seen is a true example of how policies between two nations can truly change the world and create opportunities in each of our countries,” she said.
Recalling her visit to the company’s plant in Ruislip, she added: “I was so impressed by the way Brown & Burk has taken that vision – with a commitment to innovation in the sector, a drive for success, and above all a true passion for improving people’s lives.”
“It doesn’t just save lives, it creates jobs, drives investment and empowers innovation across our economy.”
Malhotra said Brown & Burk was not a business merely seeking success.
“It is a business that aims to change prospects, to change how we do things, think about things, how we invest in our communities and healthcare, and how we make healthcare and drugs much more affordable,” she said.
Foreign Office Minister Seema Malhotra MP. www.pharmacy.biz
The minister added that the Brown & Burk team had a vision of building a successful business, a vision for the future, and a “vision for how you take people with you, investing in human talent, and in R&D that is not just about today, but about the future.”
Malhotra was speaking on the day prime minister Keir Starmer reshuffled the junior ranks of his government. She was moved from the Home Office to the Foreign Office and will serve as parliamentary under-secretary with responsibility for Asia.
The celebratory dinner at No 8 Northumberland Avenue in Whitehall saw more than 150 guests come together to mark Brown & Burk’s remarkable journey in the UK over the past 25 years. The company supplies more than 24 million packs of medicines annually in the UK and accounts for 1 per cent of the generic medicines market.
Anand Surana, director of Brown & Burk’s parent company Micro Labs, said that when they began operations in the UK in 2000, they were a “small but ambitious” pharmaceutical company aiming to provide quality healthcare at affordable prices.
“We knew the path would not be easy, but we also knew that with integrity, resilience and innovation, we could achieve something that really mattered,” he said.
Surana observed that over the past 25 years, Brown & Burk had become a respected name in the pharmaceutical industry, and he thanked the UK team and past and present employees for their tireless efforts.
“You are the heartbeat of this organisation,” Surana said.
“From R&D to manufacturing, logistics to leadership, your commitment, creativity and passion have shaped every chapter of our story.
“Thank you for walking this journey with us, and for holding us to high standards.”
Surana noted that last year the company celebrated its 50th anniversary in India. His late father, GC Surana, founded Micro Labs in 1973.
In his address, Brown & Burk Managing Director Preetham Sharma Hiremat said he was fortunate to have worked with GC Surana. He recalled the elder Surana’s advice that the company should grow by volume: “We must make sure that patients across the globe have access to quality medicines at affordable prices.
”This simple mantra has remained at the heart of Micro Labs’ global operations.
Hiremat, who has led Brown & Burk’s UK operations since 2005, recalled moving to the UK in 2004, when Surana challenged him to achieve a turnover of £25 million within five years. That milestone was reached in 2008.
He added that Surana and his brother Dilip “continue to be the fire of the company.”
During the evening, Hiremat and Surana thanked and recognised Sriram Iyer, who started Brown & Burk’s UK operations, for mentoring Hiremat on his journey. Surana said Iyer “had journeyed through every market in India and abroad with them.”
Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Anil Sharma of Kinedex Pharma was also recognised for his role in establishing Brown & Burk. He said it had been a privilege to work with the company and thanked the Surana brothers, Anand and Dilip.
Anil Sharma is being presented with a plaque by Anand Surana. www.pharmacy.biz
Micro Labs is one of India’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies, with a presence in more than 50 countries and operations in 25, employing over 13,000 people.
Headquartered in Bangalore, the company operates a strategic network of 14 formulation plants and a product portfolio covering all major therapeutic areas. It has international offices in key locations including the US, the UK, Germany, Australia and Nigeria, as well as representative offices in emerging markets.
Brown & Burk has recorded continuous growth over the past 25 years and now trades across Europe, holding more than 250 product licences in six countries that cover everything from prescription drugs to over-the-counter remedies.
