Revan Pujari

Founder & Managing Director

In many ROW (Rest of World) countries, political instability, underdeveloped healthcare systems, and unrest hinder access to essential medicines. Nations like Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia face persistent challenges, while India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the UAE are more stable. Despite healthcare rights, underserved populations often lack access to critical treatments. India, as the ‘pharmacy of the world’, plays a key role, in exporting medicines globally. With cancer now surpassing heart disease and diabetes, the demand for oncology treatments is growing. The global oncology market, valued at 200 billion dollars in 2023, includes 50 billion dollars from ROW regions.

Viviora Lifesciences is an accomplished player in this segment, specializing in the export of high-end oncology medications to the Rest of World (ROW) countries, committed to offering these critical treatments at the most affordable prices. The firm exports oncology products to countries like Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh, helping bridge the healthcare gap. Rising cancer rates, poor lifestyle awareness, and limited access to proper healthcare in these regions highlight the urgent need for education and improved healthcare access. ROW countries include developing and underdeveloped areas across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, reflecting the firm's mission to improve access to critical healthcare solutions globally. The firm manufactures its products primarily in WHO GMP-approved facilities, meeting the minimum standards required by most countries. Additionally, whenever affordability permits, production is carried out in facilities approved by stringent regulatory authorities such as WHOGMP, EuGMP and USFDA, ensuring adherence to the highest quality and compliance standards.

Viviora Lifescience was established in December 2017 with a primary focus on exports, contributing 98–99 percent of its business. Initially, operations began in three countries, leveraging the founder's extensive experience in pharmaceutical exports since 2009. Revan Pujari, with a Master’s in Pharmacology from Karnataka, brings over 15 years of expertise in exports and deep knowledge of pharmaceutical products. Before starting the firm, he served as CEO of a pharmaceutical organization in Kenya for five years. With work experience across 30-plus countries and visits to over 35 countries, he possesses a thorough understanding of regulatory requirements in Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America, ensuring seamless compliance and market entry for the firm's products.

The firm addresses common challenges faced by customers in ROW countries, including undefined logistics, lack of pricing or insurance frameworks, and limited access to manufacturers. These obstacles often hinder the availability of essential products for patients, underscoring the need for streamlined solutions and dependable partnerships.

Most of the ROW countries struck by the widespread use of plastic carry bags, plates, and more everywhere. It’s alarming because these practices are harmful, yet there seems to be no clear government direction on alternatives. In India, there's growing awareness about the dangers of plastic. The government is actively working to ban plastic use in many areas, even enforcing compliance in supermarkets and stores. Still, microplastics have become so pervasive that traces are now found in human bodies. This pollution, coupled with economic challenges, contributes significantly to the rising cancer burden, especially in countries where awareness and affordability remain low”, says Revan Pujari.

Navigating Challenges and Expanding Market Reach

Viviora Lifesciences has developed a highly efficient supply chain to ensure the timely export of critical medications to ROW countries. The firm sources/manufactures its products from WHO GMP, EuGMP, USFDA, UKMHRA -approved facilities, and enhancing product quality and production processes. India's pharmaceutical industry has seen significant advancements in research and development, driven by government-private sector collaborations. This progress ensures that Viviora's products, including oncology treatments and general medications, are manufactured to the highest standards. The firm also partners with reliable logistics providers, navigating regulatory checkpoints to ensure timely and compliant delivery, and addressing urgent healthcare needs in ROW markets effectively.

Viviora Lifesciences addresses the critical lack of awareness and education in the pharmaceutical industry by implementing various programs to help customers and vendors better understand the complexities of the market. One of the most significant challenges is the limited number of manufacturers producing oncology medications, such as cancer injectables, with only about 5-6 percent of factories in India involved in this niche. The process of exporting oncology products, particularly to ROW countries is complex. Manufacturers must comply with the local regulatory authorities, such as Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poison Board (PPB), Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (FMHACA), Ghana’s Food and Drug Board (FBD), Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to name some authorities and submit detailed documentation, including a dossier of 3,000-4,000 pages, to register products. This process involves significant fees and requires a specialized team. The firm employs a team of eight pharmacists who manage the preparation of dossiers for countries like Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and others, ensuring compliance and smooth export operations.

Looking ahead, the firm has a clear future roadmap focused on expanding its presence in global markets. Currently exporting to 22 countries, including those in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the company aims to increase its product line and expand geographically. While it already exports food supplements to Europe, the firm's ultimate goal is to introduce oncology products to the European market. In addition, Viviora Lifesciences plans to increase its footprint in Latin America, targeting further expansion into countries beyond Guyana and other select nations. A key part of the Viviora Lifesciences strategy is to achieve European Union Good Manufacturing Practice (EU-GMP) certification, which will enable it to meet the stringent requirements necessary for exporting to Europe.