EIPW was incorporated to fulfill a simple yet focused objective – “to develop, through private entrepreneurship, an organization to synthesize modern drugs from basic chemicals and cater to the needs of millions.”

The brainchild of a dynamic Indian entrepreneur and visionary Late Asoke Kumar Sen, East India Pharmaceutical Works began its journey on 27th April, 1936. He was later joined by another stalwart Late Hirendra Nath Duttagupta, whose leadership prowess added strength to the vision and together they laid an unshakable foundation for EIPW.

With the nation under foreign rule and all major drugs being import dependent, the challenges for the duo were big. But the dream, to shape an indigenously developed pharmaceutical company run solely with national resources and talents, was bigger. With immense perseverance and its commitment to attain industrial self-reliance, EIPW brought together some of the most remarkable scientists and researchers of the time and in just 2 years of incorporation, the company started its in-house Research & Development activities in 1938. Since then, the R&D department has made several outstanding breakthroughs, like the synthesis of Cincophen, Sulphacetamide, Nikethamide, Quiniodochlor and the use of fungi as medicinal agent, which were done for the first time in India.

According to the file of Patents of Independent India (1947-1966) the oldest patent was from EIPW on Sulfonamide derivative assigned on 11th June, 1947

EIPW has been on a steady growth path over the years. Responding to the needs of the time, we have been continuously developing new antibiotic, anti-infective, anti-fungal, analgesic, antipyretic, cardiovascular, antipsychotic and anti-diabetic formulations. Enteroquinol, Vitazyme, Locula, Bactiv, Tonoferon and Pyrigesic are few of the most popular medicinal brands. The company gradually diversified into herbal products, export marketing and biotechnology based R&D in microbial, genetic manipulation, natural products and healthcare.

What started as a dream by two great minds is today a research-oriented, quality-focused and progressive organization that is determined on building the nation’s health by consistently creating the most-advanced ‘medicines for millions’.