Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Dr. Sanjay Singh is the Chief Executive Officer of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Pune, India, a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of safe, efficacious, and affordable bio-therapeutics.
As a founder CEO, since 2006, at Gennova, Dr. Singh has focused on innovations in bio-manufacturing technologies that culminated in the commercialization of seven life-saving bio-therapeutics in the cardiovascular, neurology, nephrology and oncology market. His scientific background has enabled and fostered a research environment. Dr. Singh has actively mentored three PhD candidates and several research projects.
Dr. Singh has led Gennova to develop an mRNA vaccine since the first report of the SARS-CoV 2 genome was published. India’s first mRNA-based vaccine platform is established in Gennova and is a rapid development platform to combat the current and future pandemics. Gennova’s mRNA vaccine, GEMCOVAC™-19, has been approved by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for Restricted Use in Emergency Situation. It is India’s first mRNA vaccine and world’s first thermostable mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.
Under his leadership, his team pioneered the work that led to the approval of tenecteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) – first time globally, securing global patents. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India recognized this innovation for the ‘Biotech product, process development and commercialization award 2019’ and it found its way in the list of drugs for emergency care for stroke management in the guideline – ‘Prevention and Management of Stroke,’ issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
Under him, Gennova has directed their research to cater to vaccine development of neglected diseases, in particular Malaria, HPV, Leishmaniasis, and Tuberculosis, in partnership with various national and global organizations, including the NIH, US-FDA etc.
Dr. Singh has played a significant role to bridge the gap between industry and academia by initiating a student Internship as well as a PhD program in Gennova. He is currently a member of various important committee of national relevance, which notable include the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Center for Cell Sciences (NCCS), Pune, Research Council of the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow, National Committee for Biotechnology- Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), New Delhi. Additionally, he is an invited member of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program (VAP).
Contributing towards the national interests, Dr. Singh served as a member of the committee for the development of the India Guidelines on Similar Biologics (Regulatory Requirements for Marketing Authorization) constituted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology (Govt. of India) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Ministry of Health and family welfare (Govt. of India). Contribution of this committee led to the establishment of a transparent path for successful development (clarity for Biotech Industry) and approval process (clarity of guidelines for regulatory agencies) to market biosimilar drug products in India.
Dr. Singh holds a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, India. Before joining Gennova, he headed the Antigen Research Section at the Malaria Vaccine Development Unit of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, USA.
Dr. Sanjay Singh has received the following national awards:
Before becoming a first-generation entrepreneur, Dr. Sanjay Singh was an academician and researched the field of malaria. His scientific research work earned him many international awards:
Dr. Sanjay Singh holds critical process, technology, and product patents in various geographies that have the potential to generate valuable FOREX. The unique ones are listed below:
