“In everything you excel”

"This award acknowledges your great merits as a prominent figure in the scientific field and in the entrepreneurship of your country, as the creator of Avestha­gen, a major company in India in the area of biotechnologies. It is also a tribute to your cooperation with French scientists, your numerous and fruitful partnerships with major French industrial firms, and to the affection you have on many occasions expressed for our country.”

So stated the citation accompanying the Award of Officer de L’Ordre National du Mérite 2008 conferred by French president Nikolas Sarkozy on Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell, founder chairperson and managing director of Avesthagen Limited. The award, one of the highest in France, was bestowed by the Ambassador of France to India, Jerome Bonnafont in Bangalore on April 23, 2008. "As a woman, as a wife — you married 30 years ago — as a mother of two daughters, as a scientist and ultimately as a businesswoman, in everything you excel,” Bonnafont said in his speech.

"Beyond your origins, your success must also be attributed to an unconventional temperament, particularly the tenacity of a scientist and businesswoman who has overcome many barriers and incredulity. How many times have you knocked at the doors of research chairs and private laboratories in India in order to promote a research and business project based on innovation, risk-taking, multidisciplinarity, and a multi-molecular approach? On each occasion, the doors were opened just a crack, and that is why the scientist also became a company manager.

"Your passion for and your contribution to France are expressed in the list of prestigious industrial partners who account for the success of your scientific and entrepreneurial talent: Biomérieux, Danone and Limagrain. It is also visible through your unflagging willingness to speak out and share your experience as a start-up in the hi-tech world before the members of the French government, French parliamentarians and company heads who solicit your advice and experience,” added Bon­nafont.

Described as "a leading system biology company” Avesthagen has "a unique model focussed on the convergence of food, pharma and population genetics. A convergence that leads to continuous and pathbreaking innovations in predictive, preventive, personalized health­care,” notes a company brochure distributed at a function hosted by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) to felicitate Patell on May 16, 2008 at the C. K. Nayudu Hall of the Cricket Club of India.

"Villoo started from scratch without a godfather,” stated BPP chairman Minoo Shroff. She is among "two exceptional Zoroastrian entrepreneurs” of our times, the other being Lord Karan Bilimoria of Cobra Beer Ltd.

Stressing the importance of "human qualities” and one’s "roots” in scientific development the French Consul General Francois Pujolas quoted the noted 16th century French humanist Francois Rabelais: "You will lose your soul if you do not have science and your conscience.” In awarding her the honor, the French government had recognized Patell’s contribution of "bringing science to the requirements of life,” he added.

BPP public relations officer Godrej Dotivala described the lady as "a dynamo of inexhaustible energy” while BPP trustee Dadi Engineer termed her "a role model” and "a fine example of persistence.” World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) spokesperson Zarine Commissariat spoke of Patell’s "sense of humor.” Patell said she was "overwhelmed… I feel humbled.”

Referring to the French and Parsi honors bestowed on her, the entrepreneur said her "Parsi heritage and the four years (I spent studying) in France made me what I am…France has always been known to recognize avant-garde ideas and people and give them a place in their country and in history…The Parsi community is a source of inspiration to me, its daredevil entrepreneurs, the pathbreaking leadership.” The scientist is also involved in The Avestage­nome Project, the Rs 125 crore study that she initiated to compile a genetic, genealogical and medical database of the community.

From left: Godrej Dotivala, Francois Pujolas, Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell, Minoo Shroff, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Tamboly and BPP CEO Mehli Colah

Innovation

Her "search for something” to do in her field began in 1989. Patell completed her PhD degree in 1993 in plant molecular biology from the University of Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. She attempted a public-private collaboration but found the concept was before its time. "In 1998-99 there were no takers. We were running out of time. (We decided) let’s go private.” The neophyte entrepreneur took up a bungalow outside the academic institution she was connected with in Bangalore. Her first employee was a retired finance officer from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, hired in 2000. Four BSc graduates were then employed in the nascent company.

"In building a company and sustaining it perhaps no ingredient is more important to business success than innovation. Innovation is no longer regarded as the exclusive preserve of research and development (R&D), but rather as the best approach for managing the risk of today’s uncertain business environment. Innovation must become part of the core competency of every part of the organization and its network of business partners,” said Patell.

"We believe that rapid progress through our integrated systems biology programs will be instrumental in leading us towards our goal of preventive, personalized medicine in the years ahead. While there will be drugs that do generate billion dollar sales, they will be the exception rather than the rule. Targeted therapies and personalized medicine is now the new mantra and biotech is at the forefront of a major shift in healthcare towards predictability — from drug discovery to the development of accurate molecular diagnostics and targeted treatments…

"Instead of starting with a molecule that might be therapeutic and hoping to find a disease target, a systems biology approach starts with a target or a disease phenotype and then logically develops a therapeutic.”

Patell is a key member of the task force and vision group for biotechnology, instituted by the State Government of Karnataka and founding member of the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE). She was recently invited as a member of the board of the Bill Clinton Global Health Initiative. Patell has received The BioSpectrum Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2006 and The Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award for the year 2005-2006 from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), notes her bio data.

Emphasizing in business "you have to be a fund raiser,” the lady noted she "had no financial background. (But) if you have the spirit it comes automatically… What makes people fund you is that you fundamentally believe in your story and your passion rings true.”

With 300 patents to their credit, 600 employees and 10 top global companies as partners, Avesthagen today has "a steady revenue stream, a robust portfolio of technologies, services and products, as well as sophisticated collaborations with some of the most respected global business houses. It was almost impossible to believe a few years ago that India would be participating in the grand R&D global design and being a distinct and powerful sought after player in the domain of biotechnology,” she said.

Villoo thanked her parents, Daulat and Dara Morawala, husband Zareer, daughters Farah Morawala-Patell-Socha and Sanaya, sister Bakhtawar, brother Mahiyar and friend Percy Italia who encouraged and supported her venture. She recalled how in 1990 finding nothing in Hyderabad, she took her two daughters and shifted base to Bangalore. "It was heart breaking,” she admitted. But the pain paid dividends.

Her company was founded on research and innovation, not machines and plants. "If you come to Avesthagen in Bangalore, you’ll only see laboratories and technicians,” she said. She likened the functioning of the company to "a boiling pot” with her as the cook "creating more and more products.” In the years to come, she hopes visitors to her premises will still find her there "cooking.”