Press Release | UNPA Honors Late Dr. Muhammed Majeed & Shaheen Majeed at SupplySide West
Nov 7, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNPA Honors Late Dr. Muhammed Majeed & Shaheen Majeed at SupplySide West
November 7, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT: The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), a leading trade organization for respected dietary supplement and natural health companies, recently honored the late Dr. Muhammed Majeed, as well as his son, Shaheen Majeed, at its member meeting held Wednesday, October 30th during SupplySide West.
Dr. Majeed posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Science & Innovation, while Shaheen received the Excellence in Leadership Award.
The founder and chairman of Sami-Sabinsa Group, Muhammed Majeed, PhD, passed away on March 13, 2024. Born on September 25, 1948, Majeed grew up in Kollam, in Kerali, India, one of six children. He earned an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1973 and worked as a teacher prior to emigrating to the United States in 1975.
Dr. Majeed worked in a pharmacy while pursuing his master’s degree in industrial pharmacy from Long Island University and went on to earn his doctorate in industrial pharmacy from St. John’s University in 1986. His early experience in pharma included Pfizer, Carter Wallace and Paco Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey, where he was head of research.
Dr. Majeed started Sabinsa Corporation in New Jersey in 1988. The company was initially launched to make generic drugs, but Majeed saw the potential in India’s Ayurvedic system of medicine and anticipated a market opportunity for traditional Ayurveda in the U.S. but backed by modern science.
In 1991, Majeed established Sami Labs Limited, a research and manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, India. Now a division of Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited, Sami operates 11 manufacturing facilities and employs more than 1,400 people, including over 120 senior scientists. The Sami-Sabinsa Group commercially markets over 120 standardized botanical extracts in 17 countries, many of which are patented. During his lifetime, Dr. Majeed was granted more than 500 U.S. and international patents.
Dr. Majeed’s contribution to scientific literature was prolific, with more than 200 peer-reviewed research papers, and four book chapters in leading scientific journals. He also authored and co-authored 15 books on the history and benefits of numerous herbal extracts.
Shaheen Majeed is the Global CEO & Managing Director of the Sami-Sabinsa Group, where he has spent over 25 years shaping the company into a global leader in the nutraceutical ingredient industry. Throughout his tenure, Shaheen has held diverse roles, including sales, supply chain management, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and global marketing. During his four-year term as President Worldwide, his innovative global strategies expanded the company’s reach across multiple continents.
Shaheen’s achievements include ensuring the company’s adherence to cGMP and regulatory standards, guiding numerous clinical studies to publication, and launching products that are category leaders. His emphasis on education opportunities delving into the clinical studies supporting Sabinsa’s portfolio included renewing the multi-day Sabinsa on Wheels conference and launching the more streamlined Sabinsa Knowledge Day, both global educational platforms that foster direct engagement with formulators and marketers.
Shaheen holds 62 US & International patents and has authored 31 peer-reviewed publications, showcasing his dedication to advancing scientific research and product innovation. His status as an industry thought leader is demonstrated by his dozens of speaking engagements and hundreds of trade publication interviews throughout the years.
“UNPA is privileged to honor both the late Dr. Muhammed Majeed and Shaheen Majeed. Dr. Majeed was a visionary scientist and entrepreneur who pioneered the introduction of Ayurvedic herbal extracts to global markets, blending ancient wisdom with scientific rigor. As founder of the Sami-Sabinsa Group, he created a leading multinational health and life sciences company committed to quality, sustainability, and community impact,” said Loren Israelsen, Founder and President of UNPA. “Known for his extensive contributions to nutraceutical research, patented innovations, and philanthropic work, Dr. Majeed’s legacy stands as a profound influence on both the industry and countless lives worldwide.”
Israelsen added, “For more than 25 years, Shaheen has been a respected business leader and community builder. Together with his father, Dr. Muhammed Majeed, and outstanding research capabilities of Sabinsa, Shaheen was a pioneer in bringing the highest quality Indian botanical ingredients to the U.S. and global markets.”
“What distinguishes Shaheen is his remarkable ability to bring people together, build lasting friendships, and a natural gift of leadership that has lifted the industry,” Israelsen continued. “In his new role as Global CEO and Managing Director of Sabinsa, he will carry on the work of his father, together with his sister, Dr. Anju Majeed, to take Sabinsa to new heights of growth through research and quality.”
About the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA):
The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) is a premier trade association dedicated to advancing global natural health products. With a commitment to quality, science, and innovation, UNPA collaborates with industry leaders, government agencies, and stakeholders to promote responsible business practices and advocate for standards that ensure consumer safety, access to reliable health information and trained health practitioners. Through education, research, and advocacy, UNPA along with its members and partners foster industry excellence and leadership that drive growth and integrity in the natural health products community. UNPA serves as a unifying voice, to honor the dietary supplement industry’s history, advance the science and protect the health freedom of our consumers. For more information, visit www.unpa.com
About Sabinsa:
Founded in 1988 by the late Dr. Muhammed Majeed, an internationally acclaimed scientist and entrepreneur in the area of “Evidence Based Medicine”, Sabinsa Corporation is a research-oriented multinational health science company and a leading producer of nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, standardized herbal extracts, fine chemicals, specialty chemicals, and probiotics for the nutritional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. Over the past 36 years, Sabinsa has brought to market more than 100 standardized botanical extracts and privately funded several clinical studies in conjunction with prestigious institutions in support of these products. With more than 120 full time scientists conducting ongoing research in India and the United States, Sabinsa continues to develop and patent phytonutrients for the world market. All products intended for human consumption are certified Kosher and Halal. For more information, visit www.sabinsa.com
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