Reshma, who is trained in internal medicine and nephrology, initially planned to engage in teaching, patient care, and laboratory work following her medical education. Nevertheless, her fervor for creating new medications became too compelling to overlook—a passion she recognized could not be fully realized while adhering to the conventional medical trajectory.
Reshma Kewalramani, the CEO of a global biotechnology firm in the United States and of Indian descent, has been recognized in Time magazine’s list of the ‘100 Most Influential People of 2025.’
Kewalramani is celebrated as the first woman to lead a significant biotechnology company in the US. She moved to the United States from India at the age of 11 and became the chief medical officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2018. Her exceptional leadership qualities led to her promotion to CEO just two years later.
In a statement to Time Magazine, Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, remarked, “Reshma served on my board at Ginkgo Bioworks, and her contributions were invaluable: she understands how to push the boundaries of science while effectively managing the drug-approval process. She advised us that when pursuing innovation, if an idea seems outrageous or unfeasible, that’s acceptable—it’s merely because it hasn’t been attempted before.”
During her tenure, Vertex reached a historic achievement by obtaining the first FDA approval for a CRISPR-based therapy, which treats sickle cell disease by rectifying the patient’s DNA mutations.
“Reshma embodies the type of leader capable of realizing that extraordinary future—it only appears outlandish because it hasn’t been accomplished yet,” Kelly noted.
With a background in internal medicine and nephrology, Kewalramani initially aspired to teach, care for patients, and conduct laboratory research after completing medical school. However, her strong desire to innovate in medicine became undeniable—a pursuit she recognized could not be fully realized within the confines of a conventional medical career.
“I understood that if I wanted to engage in drug discovery, clinical trials, and the creation of new medicines, that work primarily occurs in the industry, whether in biotech or pharmaceuticals,” Kewalramani stated in an interview with Babson, “that’s truly where the core of that activity lies.”
The series of achievements that originated in the laboratory has elevated Kewalramani to financial levels that are rare for women in the pharmaceutical sector. In 2023, her total earnings surpassed $20 million, positioning her among a select group of top-earning pharmaceutical CEOs, predominantly male, from companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, and Pfizer, as reported by Fierce Biotech.
Significant accomplishments of Vertex during Kewalramani’s tenure
In 2023, Vertex recorded revenues of $9.87 billion, reflecting an 11 percent increase compared to the prior year.
Under Reshma Kewalramani’s guidance, the company reached significant milestones, including obtaining regulatory approvals in 33 countries for Casgevy, the first gene therapy approved by the FDA utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
She also spearheaded the $4.9 billion acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences, recognized for its therapies aimed at treating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
Vertex is currently developing non-opioid treatments for both acute and chronic pain, with a selective pain signal inhibitor undergoing Phase 3 trials. Additionally, the company achieved a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion in 2024.
