In a world where science and compassion come together, the most important discoveries often arise not just from labs, but from visionary individuals who challenge traditional ideas. True progress in healthcare comes from leaders who look beyond the science itself and see medicine as a connection between knowledge and caring for people. Their dedication changes how diseases are treated and how patients regain their lives with dignity and hope.
One such leader is Dr. Tathagata Dutta, President of JODAS EXPOIM Pvt. Ltd. With more than twenty three years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical fields, Dr. Dutta has significantly contributed to research in cell and gene therapy, biologics, and advanced drug delivery systems. His leadership combines strong scientific expertise with forward-thinking vision, based on the belief that quality, safety, and effectiveness are essential in every medical advancement. Under his guidance, JODAS EXPOIM continues to turn innovative research into accessible, high-quality healthcare solutions for patients around the world.
The Early Years That Shaped a Scientific Mind
Dr. Tathagata Dutta was born and raised in Berhampur, Murshidabad, West Bengal, in a humble family. His parents were educators, and his grandparents were freedom fighters. As a child, he was not particularly focused on studies but showed a strong creative spirit, often experimenting at home, sometimes leading to minor accidents. His interest in science was inspired by reading about Professor Shanku, a brilliant and eccentric scientist created by Satyajit Ray, which sparked his dream of becoming a scientist. His father, Sri Bimalendu Prakash Dutta, mother, Mrs. Swapna Dutta, and elder sister Ratna played key roles in nurturing his curiosity and creativity, helping shape his future as an innovator.
Initially, Dr. Dutta planned to study physics, but a local physician, Dr. Binoy Kumar Sarkar, advised him to pursue pharmacy, highlighting how it combined innovation with a direct impact on people’s lives. Following this advice, he chose pharmacy and excelled academically, earning a gold medal at the university level. He completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy from Bharathi College of Pharmacy under the University of Mysore, securing the first rank and topping the national GATE examination.
For his master’s degree, he enrolled at Dr. Hari Singh Gour University in Sagar, studying under respected professors like Narendra Kumar Jain, Suresh Prasad Vyas, and V.K Dikshit. Although his passion was biotechnology, he chose pharmaceutics because of its strong relevance to the industry. During this time, he pursued a gene therapy project at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad under Dr. Lalji Singh’s guidance, despite limited resources at his home institution.
Perseverance, Opportunity, and the Path Forward
Despite his academic success, Dr. Dutta initially faced challenges finding job interviews. He persistently sent resumes every day, even as some peers with lower marks secured jobs through connections. In 2003, he presented his gene therapy research at the International Conference of the Indian Society of Human Genetics in Jammu, where a senior executive from Ranbaxy noticed his work and requested his resume. Although he missed the initial interview invitation, he traveled 700 kilometers under difficult conditions, attended the interview, and successfully secured the job.
After two years at Ranbaxy, Dr. Dutta received a Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and left the industry to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on DNA vaccination, well before it became widely recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic. He then continued his research with postdoctoral work on gene silencing and siRNA therapeutics at the University of Queensland and the Diamantina Institute.
Throughout his career, Dr. Tathagata Dutta has maintained a strong passion for innovation. Even while holding leadership positions, he frequently engages in laboratory experiments whenever inspiration strikes, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to scientific advancement.
Delivering Quality Medicines Across Borders
JODAS EXPOIM Pvt. Ltd. is a global, specialty, innovation-driven generic pharmaceutical company that is steadily positioning itself among the world’s leading pharmaceutical players. Founded in 2006 in India, the company is built on a strong foundation of research, quality, and affordability, with a clear focus on delivering high-quality, effective, and accessible medicines to patients worldwide. Headquartered in Hyderabad, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and Innovation Center at Genome Valley, JODAS operates across key therapeutic segments: anti-infectives, anti-cancer, contrast media, and critical care injectables, antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA therapeutics for rare diseases and solid orals.
Over the years, JODAS has expanded its footprint to more than 25 countries, with approved products in over 50 markets and regulatory approvals from major authorities including the EU, Russia, UAE, and SFDA. Brazil, Australia, etc. The company has commercialized millions of injectables globally and continues to invest in advanced R&D, biosimilars, and technologically challenging niche products, all under its guiding promise of being “ONE STEP BETTER” in meeting unmet medical needs with uncompromising quality.
Jodas Expoim: Product Portfolio at a Glance
Jodas Expoim delivers high-quality generic injectables across 4 core segments, with 250+ approvals in 50+ countries and millions of units commercialized.
Therapeutic Categories
- Anti-Infectives: Ertapenem, Doripenem, Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, Vancomycin
- Oncology: Capecitabine, Letrozole, Abiraterone, Cabazitaxel, Bortezomib
- Contrast Media: Iohexol, Iodixanol, Gadimide, Jodascan
- Critical Care: Bivalirudin, Levosimendan, Dexamethasone, Caspofungin
- Antisense Oligonucleotides & siRNA: Nusinersen
Key Stats
| Metric | Details |
| Approved Products | 250+ in 50+ countries |
| Biosimilars Pipeline | Pertuzumab, Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Atezolizumab |
| Manufacturing | 7 lines, 33,000 sq.m |
| Notable Brands | Joclab, Botimib, Fulvedex |
Creating Safer Therapies Through Targeted Science
Dr. Dutta’s research has mainly focused on tissue-targeted drug delivery systems and gene therapy, fields in which he has made significant contributions. Traditional drug delivery methods often cause drugs to spread throughout the body, which can lead to unwanted side effects, especially with toxic medications like chemotherapy. His work addresses this problem by utilizing nanotechnology-based platforms, such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and other nanoparticles, to deliver drugs directly to diseased cells. This targeted approach helps reduce toxicity while improving treatment effectiveness.
Additionally, Dr. Tathagata Dutta has extensively worked on gene therapy, including DNA vaccination and RNA interference (RNAi) techniques such as siRNA and shRNA for gene silencing. These methods are particularly useful for treating genetic disorders by targeting and correcting faulty genes.
Over the past 23 years, he has successfully developed and brought several products to market, overcoming challenges related to scaling up production and meeting regulatory requirements. His efforts have been recognized with numerous awards and honors.
Balancing Multiple Roles Through Discipline
The ease with which Dr. Tathagata Dutta balances research, writing, and leadership comes from a life shaped early by discipline and respect for time. Each day begins with morning worship, followed by a brief review of world news before he fully engages in his professional duties, which include both administrative tasks and research activities.
Evenings are dedicated to intellectual pursuits, such as studying new research and literature, including poetry, which deeply interests him. After dinner, in the quiet of the night, he focuses on writing, maintaining a clear separation between different aspects of his work.
Teaching and sharing knowledge are also important parts of Dr. Dutta’s professional life. He regularly delivers lectures at prestigious institutions like NIPER and IIT and makes it a priority to share insights with students in remote pharmacy and medical colleges. On weekends, he often travels – sometimes at his own expense – to conduct talks and promote public health and disease prevention awareness.
During his postdoctoral work in Australia, he collaborated with several NGOs to educate communities about cancer prevention, emphasizing the role of lifestyle changes and a healthy diet in reducing cancer risk. This well-organized approach enables Dr. Dutta to manage and excel in his varied roles effectively.
Lessons in Leadership from C.K. Prahalad
One of the most important moments in Dr. Dutta’s life occurred during a flight from Los Angeles to Michigan. Onboard, he met a gentleman who asked whether he wanted to remain a manager or become a leader. This man was C.K. Prahalad, one of the world’s most respected management thinkers.
Mr. Prahalad advised him to always return phone calls promptly, as opportunities often come unexpectedly. Inspired by this encounter, Dr. Dutta went on to pursue executive management studies at IIM Calcutta.
Building a Culture of Innovation and Dialogue
Dr. Tathagata Dutta’s approach to encouraging innovative thinking within his team focuses on promoting curiosity and open communication. He stresses the importance of asking questions, believing that there are no bad questions, only opportunities to gain a deeper understanding. In today’s environment, where many hesitate to speak up, he actively encourages his team to express their doubts and participate in discussions and debates.
He creates a work atmosphere where ideas can be openly challenged and improved through collaboration. When someone offers a better idea or a different viewpoint, he invites them to share it. This active engagement often leads to new insights and creative solutions.
Furthermore, Dr. Dutta highlights the importance of careful observation and awareness. He believes that the world around us is full of phenomena waiting to be explored, and by paying close attention, new ideas can be discovered. He reminds his team that innovation does not happen in isolation but through uncovering and refining what already exists in nature. This mindset of discovery and teamwork is essential for fostering innovative thinking within the team.
Rising Standards and New Directions in Pharma
The pharmaceutical sciences are undergoing a profound shift, marked by stricter quality standards and deeper scrutiny of safety and toxicity. Practices that were once considered safe are now examined more carefully, with greater attention to long-term effects. Dr. Tathagata Dutta addresses that new areas such as cell and gene therapy, biologics, and tissue-targeted drug delivery are transforming the industry.
The combination of medical devices with pharmaceuticals further expands the possibilities for innovation and better patient care. Together, these developments represent important progress and offer great promise for the future of healthcare.
Views on Leadership, Creativity, and Innovation
Dr. Tathagata Dutta believes that while a manager manages people, a leader inspires them. He often emphasizes that “A leader sets examples instead of giving instructions.” He recalls witnessing Ratan Tata quietly picking up a bone from the floor and placing it in the bin without saying a word, an act that spoke volumes about true leadership.
Plants hold a special place in Dr. Dutta’s heart, influenced by his father, who was an agriculture officer. At home, he cares for carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants and sundews. These plants are not only beautiful but also require little maintenance, naturally controlling pests and eliminating the need for insecticides. As a result, his home remains free from mosquitoes and cockroaches.
For Dr. Dutta, science is something to be lived and experienced, not just studied. He finds great inspiration in the poetry of Robert Frost, especially in the poem “The Road Not Taken,” which resonates deeply with him.
He also believes that innovation rarely occurs in large, rigid organizations. Instead, it flourishes in small, agile environments. Innovation, he says, “does not begin with money; it begins in the mind.” According to Dr. Tathagata Dutta, originality and passion are the true forces that drive innovation forward.
Awards and Honours
Dr. Tathagata Dutta has won many national and international awards and honours. Noteworthy among them are Bharat Gaurav Award ( Pride of India ), Mother Teresa Excellence Award, Best Senior Scientist Award 2019, S. Ramanujam Award 2024, Most Emerging Pharmaceutical Leader of the Year Award 2024, etc. He was also featured as the The 10 Most Iconic Leader of India, 2024 in Business Prizm Magazine and Pioneering Pharma Leader in Pharma Now in May 2025. Dr. Dutta has published several international research papers and review articles, book chapters, and patents. He is the editorial board member of several international journals of repute and a board member of several academic institutions and universities.
A Vision for India’s Future in Advanced Sciences
India, in Dr. Tathagata Dutta’s view, stands at a defining moment in its scientific and economic journey. While government support has never been stronger, he feels the country must move beyond generics and biosimilars to New Chemical Entities (NCE) and New Biological Entities ( NBE). To realize the ambition of becoming a $5 trillion economy, India must step into leadership roles in biologics, gene therapy, and the creation of new biological entities.
For him, it is innovation that builds nations, and dreams that give innovation its direction.
Open Letter for Aspiring Innovators in Healthcare
Dear Future Leaders and Dreamers,
In the journey of science and service, remember that true innovation begins not with grand resources, but in the curious mind. Challenge conventions, ask bold questions, and observe the world closely – nature holds endless lessons. Pursue quality relentlessly, as in our mantra at JODAS EXPOIM: “One Step Better.” Balance discipline with creativity; start your day with purpose and end it with reflection.
Lead by example, not instruction – inspire through actions that speak louder than words. Embrace small teams where agility fosters breakthroughs, and never fear failure; it fuels perseverance. India stands ready for your vision in biologics and gene therapy – dream big, innovate fearlessly, and build a healthier world.
Dr. Tathagata Dutta
President
JODAS EXPOIM Pvt. Ltd.
5 Key Takeaways from Dr. Tathagata Dutta’s Impact on Science, Leadership, and Healthcare
- Innovation rooted in purpose creates lasting impact: Dr. Tathagata Dutta’s journey shows that meaningful healthcare progress comes from combining scientific excellence with compassion and a clear focus on patient well-being.
- Discipline and curiosity are powerful drivers of success: A structured life, respect for time, and an enduring sense of curiosity have enabled him to balance leadership, research, and lifelong learning effectively.
- Targeted science leads to safer and better treatments: His work in tissue-targeted drug delivery and gene therapy highlights how precision-driven science can reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes.
- Leadership is about example, not authority: True leadership, as reflected in his philosophy, lies in inspiring people through actions, openness to ideas, and a culture of dialogue and collaboration.
- India’s future lies in bold scientific leadership: Moving beyond generics toward biologics, gene therapy, and new biological entities is essential for India’s growth, with innovation and vision as the foundation.
