Dr K A Hamied sets up "The Chemical, Industrial and Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd." in a rented bungalow, at Bombay Central.

As the Second World War cuts off drug supplies, the company starts producing fine chemicals, dedicating all its facilities for the war effort.

Sets up first research division for attaining self-sufficiency in technological development.

Starts operations at second plant at Vikhroli, Mumbai, producing fine chemicals with special emphasis on natural products.

Cipla manufactures ampicillin for the first time in the country.

Starts Agricultural Research Division at Bangalore, for scientific cultivation of medicinal plants.

Cipla launches medicinal aerosols for asthma.

Wins Chemexcil Award for Excellence for exports.

Fourth factory begins operations at Patalganga, Maharashtra.

Develops anti-cancer drugs, vinblastine and vincristine in collaboration with the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Wins Sir P C Ray Award for developing inhouse technology for indigenous manufacture of a number of basic drugs.

US FDA approves Cipla's bulk drug manufacturing facilities.

Cipla wins National Award for Successful Commercialisation of Publicly Funded R&D.

Lauches etoposide, a breakthrough in cancer chemotherapy, in association with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.

The company pioneers the manufacture of the antiretroviral drug, zidovudine, in technological collaboration with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad.

Cipla's fifth factory begins commercial production at Kurkumbh, Maharashtra.

Launches transparent Rotahaler, the world's first such dry powder inhaler device now patented by Cipla in India and abroad. The palliative cancer care centre set up by the Cipla Foundation, begins offering free services at Warje, near Pune.

Launches lamivudine, becoming one of the few companies in the world to offer all three component drugs of retroviral combination therapy (zidovudine and stavudine already launched).

Launches Nevirapine, antiretroviral drug, used to prevent the transmission of AIDS from mother to child.

Cipla became the first company, outside the USA and Europe to launch CFC-free inhalers – ten years before the deadline to phase out use of CFC in medicinal products.

Four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities set up in Goa in a record time of less than twelve months.

Launches TIOVA (Tiotropium bromide), a novel inhaled, long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator that is employed as a once-daily maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Commissioned second phase of manufacturing operations at Goa.

Set-up state-of-the-art facility for manufacture of formulations at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.

Set-up state-of-the-art facility for manufacture of formulations at Sikkim.