Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
THE father-in-law of prime minister Rishi Sunak and the co-founder of Indian IT giant Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy, has gifted 1.5 million shares of the company, valued at £23 million, to his grandson, reports said.
According to stock exchange data released on Monday (18), Murthy's gift to Ekagrah Rohan Murty represents 0.04 per cent of Infosys' share capital, making the four-month-old the youngest millionaire in India.
Murthy and Sudha Murty's son Rohan Murty and daughter-in-law Aparna Krishnan welcomed Ekagrah in November last year.
Their daughter Akshata has two daughters with Sunak - Krishna and Anoushka.
With the latest transaction, Murthy will now own 0.36 per cent from 0.40 per cent in the Bengaluru-based company. The Infosys co-founder held a 0.45 per cent stake or 16,645,638 equity shares of the company, as per December 2023 shareholding pattern.
The mode of transaction was "off-market", the information technology services company said in an exchange filing.
The news of the share transfer reignited memes about the infamous '70-hour work week' endorsed by Murthy.
Following the share transfer, one X user joked, "Infosys finally paid a fresher more than Rs 350,000 (£3,300) per year."
Akshata Murty owns 389,57,096 shares, accounting for 1.05 per cent of the company. According to reports, it is valued around $700 million.
Rohan Murty owns 608,12,892 shares (1.64 per cent).
Murthy's wife and Indian MP Sudha Murty owns 345,50,626 shares, or 0.93 per cent of the company.
Earlier this month, Sudha Murty, 73, was appointed to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament. She was former chair of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global tech behemoth.
The Indian government last year bestowed Sudha with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, for her career in social work.
Infosys was founded by Murthy along with his six friends. It started in 1981 in Pune and has since transformed into second largest IT firm in India.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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