Sanofi-Aventis India Managing Director Shailesh Ayyangar On Building Infrastructure In India To Bring Affordable Drugs To Patients In Rural Markets: An Interview With PharmAsia News (Part 1 of 2)

Sanofi-Aventis has had an interesting past in India from having a discovery research center to creating some of the most recognized pharmaceutical brands. But its Managing Director Shailesh Ayyangar is not resting on those achievements. The senior executive who started with Ranbaxy and also worked at SmithKline Beecham in key positions is now taking up the daunting challenge of creating a new paradigm in the rural centers of India. An exercise that requires huge investments, navigation of unseen opposition along with perseverance to witness a real change excites Ayyangar. In a rare interview, Ayyangar spoke to PharmAsia News' India Bureau about the company's rural markets strategy, creating brands, doing research deals and also about buying out "strategically important" companies.