Hyderabad born Mir Imran plans to disrupt the global pharmaceutical industry
Prolific inventor and serial founder Mir Imran is poised to change the way drugs for several major diseases are delivered. He has invented a capsule that seeks to convert injectable medications into pills to treat diabetes, arthritis, psoriasis, hemophilia and other chronic diseases. Each of these applications represent a multi-billion dollar market, serving over 200 million patients worldwide.
"Understanding and trying to solve big problems continues to motivate me every day," said Imran. Chairman and CEO of Rani Therapeutics, a Silicon Valley based company, he adds that."…the real reward will be when we can dramatically improve the lives of millions of people around the world."
Rani has raised over $140 million from investors including the venture arm of Alphabet as well as Novartis, AstraZeneca and other drug firms. The company expertise covers pharmacology and physiology, protein and polymer chemistry, mechanical engineering and material science, microelectronics, sensors, software, industrial design, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing.
In 1995, Imran founded In-Cube, a Silicon Valley incubator for medical and Internet companies. Through this incubator, and prior to its establishment, Imran has founded more than 20 life sciences companies; 15 of which were either acquired or went public.
His biggest challenge earlier in his entrepreneurial career was asking people to invest in his companies, he told Fortune. “ I had the mortal fear that the company could fail and I could never show my face again.” His big advantage is that unlike several scientists and techies who stop working in the lab once they get into business, he keeps developing products while he grows his businesses. “At any given time, I have six to eight unfinished businesses,” he told the magazine. “My hope is that someone will take them over and complete them after I die.”
Imran holds more than 400 issued and pending patents and is recognized for his pioneering contributions to the first FDA-approved Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. He also developed an electronic lock box to store house keys, outside a home, and prevent burglars from breaking into the home.
Imran serves as a Director for Surface Genesis, CardioVasc, Zonare, JStreetData.com and IntraPace. He was also a founder of Percusurge, a marketer and developer of circulatory system devices, which was acquired by Medtronic in 2000, and of Cardiac Pathways, a developer of catheters that was acquired by Boston Scientific in 2001.
In 1973, Imran left Hyderabad, India, at age 17 to study at Rutgers University in New Jersey. His father borrowed $4,000 from friends to pay for Imran’s education in America. Imran holds an M.S. in bio-engineering and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Rutgers. He also attended Rutgers Medical School.He is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the National Academy of Engineering.
