Raches Ella

About

When Raches Ella returned from the U.S. in 2023 after earning an MBA from the Harvard Business School to take up the role of chief development officer (CDO) at Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL), the Covid-19 pandemic that had defined his earlier stint at the company founded by his parents, Dr Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella in 1996, had already receded. But BBIL’s mission was far from over. The company’s continued focus on tackling some of most pressing public health challenges through vaccine research and development was a mission which resonated with Raches’ passion. Today, three years into his role as CDO, Raches leads a team of about 200 scientists working on a pipeline of 15 vaccine candidates, with some already progressing through clinical trials. Two are in advanced stages of development. “By this time next year, we expect to launch the Chikungunya vaccine. This will be another ‘Make in India’ initiative with our own IP,” says Raches. Currently, BBIL’s tuberculosis vaccine is entering phase 3 clinical trials in India. “It will be a three-year clinical trial. And in 2029, if the results are positive, we should be able to launch this [TB] vaccine,” he adds. While BBIL remains Raches’s prime focus, he is also part of other family-run businesses, including human vaccine-making subsidiaries Chiron Behring and Sapigen Biologix, veterinary vaccine firm Biovet, functional food company Ella Foods, preclinical toxicology testing and animal testing services firms RCC and Anamay, and investment management company Skagen.