Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla named 1 of 6 ‘Asians of the year’ | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla named 1 of 6 ‘Asians of the year’

World+Biz

TBS Report
05 December, 2020, 10:10 am
Last modified: 05 December, 2020, 12:14 pm

Related News

  • Indian vaccine giant Serum plans African plant in global expansion
  • India's Serum Institute applies for full approval of Covishield vaccine
  • Omicron-specific booster shot possible: SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
  • Modi, Mamata, Poonawalla in Time’s 100 most influential people list
  • 'Hope to launch Covavax for adults in October, in early 2022 for kids': Adar Poonwalla

Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla named 1 of 6 ‘Asians of the year’

A Singaporean daily ‘The Strait Times’ made a prestigious list naming the Asians collectively referred to as ‘The Virus Busters,’ who have devoted themselves to resolve the pandemic, each in their capacity

TBS Report
05 December, 2020, 10:10 am
Last modified: 05 December, 2020, 12:14 pm
The Serum Institute was founded by Adar Poonawalla's father Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 Photo: Reuters
The Serum Institute was founded by Adar Poonawalla's father Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 Photo: Reuters

For the work in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, Adar Poonwalla, chief executive of Serum Institute, largest vaccine manufacturer of India, was named one of the six 'Asians of the year' by a Singaporean leading daily – The Strait Times. 

Serum Institute of India is a Pune-based manufacturer company that has collaborated with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, for making the Covid-19 vaccine 'Covidshield,' and is currently conducting trials in India.  

One of the other five Asians named in the list is Chinese researcher Zhang Yongzhen, who led the team that mapped and published the first complete genome of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that sparked the pandemic. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

China's Major-General Chen Wei, Japan's Dr Ryuichi Morishita, and Singapore's Professor Ooi Eng Eong are in the list as well. They are among the people who are at the forefront of developing vaccines against the virus. 

South Korean businessman Seo Jung-jin whose company will enable the making and dispensing of the vaccines and other Covid-19 treatments to the world has also made it to the list by The Strait Times.

Collectively referred to as 'The Virus Busters,' they have devoted themselves to the pressing cause of resolving the coronavirus pandemic, each in their capacity, the daily stated.

"Sars-CoV-2, the virus that has brought death and hardship to the world's largest and most populous continent, is meeting its tamer in The Virus Busters," the award citation said.

"We salute your courage, care, commitment and creativity. In this peril-filled hour, you are a symbol of hope for Asia, indeed the world."

The Serum Institute was founded by Adar Poonawalla's father Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966. Adar Poonawalla joined the Serum Institute of India in 2001 and became the CEO. 

Mr Poonawalla said that he has put $250 million of his family fortune into ramping up his institute's manufacturing capacity.

"I decided to go all out," said Mr Poonawalla, 39, who has pledged that his firm's Covid-19 vaccines will help supply lower-and middle-income countries that face significant disadvantages in the quest to obtain them.

In the big picture of ending the pandemic, the commonality of purpose is key, said The Straits Times, Singapore's mainstream daily.

"There has not been a day this year when the pandemic has not been in the news. Straits Times' editors felt there could be no more deserving recipients this year than the people squaring up to Asia's biggest-ever health challenge, engaged in pioneering and courageous efforts to prevent the highly contagious virus from wreaking more damage, Bhagyashree Garekar, a Straits Times editor, remarked on Saturday.

"In a year that is ending with a wish for great resets... Asia's virus busters are the face of hope on the horizon," said Ms Garekar.

"Each year, ST editors seek out a person, team or organisation that has not only made or shaped the news but also helped contribute positively to Asia in the process," said Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English/Malay/Tamil Media group and editor of Straits Times.

"This year, we naturally looked to those involved in the fight against Covid-19, which has dominated the headlines. We debated long and hard, but finally agreed on a group of people who have done the most to help find an answer to the crisis brought on by the virus."

Top News / South Asia

The starit times / Singaporean daily / Asians of the year / Serum Institute of India / Adar Poonawalla

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    Lowest SSC pass rate in 17 years as over 6 lakh students fail
  • BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while speaking at a discussion at National Press Club on 10 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    'Backbone of economy will break': Fakhrul says govt should've worked seriously with more qualified people on US tariffs
  • S Alam Group Chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam. Photo: Collected
    Court freezes foreign investments of S Alam Group chairman, family in Singapore

MOST VIEWED

  • Graphics: TBS
    BB raises startup fund limit, drops upper age barrier
  • Workers pack undergarments at the packing section of a garment factory in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 19, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Fatima Tuj Johora
    After US tariffs, jobs hang by a thread in Bangladesh's garments sector
  • Global Islami Bank rectifies 2023 figures, reports Tk2,259cr loss instead of Tk128cr profit
    Global Islami Bank rectifies 2023 figures, reports Tk2,259cr loss instead of Tk128cr profit
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Audit reports of most banks contain cooked up data: BB governor
  • File photo of containers at Chattogram port/TBS
    US buyers push Bangladeshi exporters to share extra tariff costs
  • CA orders law enforcers to complete all election preparations by December
    CA orders law enforcers to complete all election preparations by December

Related News

  • Indian vaccine giant Serum plans African plant in global expansion
  • India's Serum Institute applies for full approval of Covishield vaccine
  • Omicron-specific booster shot possible: SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
  • Modi, Mamata, Poonawalla in Time’s 100 most influential people list
  • 'Hope to launch Covavax for adults in October, in early 2022 for kids': Adar Poonwalla

Features

Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

2h | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered- have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

2h | Panorama
Women are forced to fish in saline waters every day, risking their health to provide for their families. Photo: TBS

How Mongla’s women are bearing the brunt of rising salinity

1d | Panorama
Dr Mostafa Abid Khan. Sketch: TBS

Actual impact will depend on how US retailers respond: Mostafa Abid Khan

2d | Economy

More Videos from TBS

News of The Day, 10 JULY 2025

News of The Day, 10 JULY 2025

42m | TBS News of the day
SSC and equivalent results released: Pass rate 68.45%, GPA drops by 5

SSC and equivalent results released: Pass rate 68.45%, GPA drops by 5

1h | TBS Today
Islami bank aims to increase deposits to Tk 2 lakh crore by 2025

Islami bank aims to increase deposits to Tk 2 lakh crore by 2025

3h | TBS Programs
The two countries still face major challenges and mutual suspicions

The two countries still face major challenges and mutual suspicions

2h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net