Biocon

Biocon Limited is an Indian biopharmaceutical company based in Bangalore, India founded by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. The company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that are sold in over 120 countries across the globe, including the developed markets of the United States and Europe. It also manufactures novel biologics, as well as, biosimilar insulins and antibodies, which are sold in India as branded formulations. Biocon's biosimilar products are also sold in both bulk and formulation forms in several emerging markets. In contract research services, Syngene International Limited (Syngene), a publicly listed subsidiary of Biocon.
Biocon's formulations for the Indian market include metabolics, oncology, immunotherapy and nephrology products. Some of Biocon's key brands in India include INSUGEN (rh-insulin), BASALOG (Glargine), BIOMAb EGFR (Nimotuzumab), BLISTO (Glimepiride + Metformin), CANMAb (Trastuzumab), Evertor (Everolimus), TACROGRAF (Tacrolimus), ALZUMAb(Itolizumab) and KRABEVA (Bevacizumab).
Biocon and Syngene together employ about 9200 personnel.
History.
Biocon was founded in 1978 with Rs. 10,000 as the initial capital.
Corporate governance.
Biocon's CMD Kiran Mazumdar–Shaw joined Biocon in 1978.
Her efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for the industry in India and for Biocon and she has been called India's 'biotech queen' by The Economist and India's 'mother of invention' by The New York Times. She was recently named among TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world based not only on her contribution to the biotech industry but also because she gives back to the community. Ms Shaw features on the Forbes list of ‘The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ and in Financial Times’ ‘Top 50 Women in Business’ list
Shaw is the recipient of several awards including the Nikkei Asia Prize, 2009 for Regional Growth, Express Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit Award 2009 for Dynamic Entrepreneur, The Economic Times ‘Businesswoman of the Year’, the ‘Veuve Clicquot Initiative For Economic Development For Asia, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare, ‘Technology Pioneer’ recognition by World Economic Forum and The Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. She has received two Indian national awards—Padma Shri (1989) and Padma Bhushan (2005) for her pioneering efforts in Industrial Biotechnology.
Biocon announced that Dr. Christiane Hamacher has been appointed as the CEO of Biocon Biologic India Limited, with her term having started in March 2019.
On 3 December 2019, Siddharth Mittal took over from Dr. Arun Chandavarkar who retired as CEO & Joint Managing Director of Biocon.
Subsidiaries.
Syngene International Ltd.
Established in 1993, Syngene International Limited is Biocon's custom research organisation offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology majors customized solutions in synthetic chemistry and molecular biology for early-stage drug discovery and development.
Clinigene.
Clinigene International Limited is a subsidiary on Syngene offering international pharmaceutical majors Phase I-IV clinical trials and studies for novel/generic molecules.
BBPL.
Biocon established Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. (BBPL) in 2003 as a joint venture with the Cuban institute CIMAB to develop and market a range of MAbs and cancer vaccines.
Biocon-AxiCorp.
In 2008, Biocon acquired a majority stake of 70% in AxiCorp GmbH, a German pharmaceutical marketing company.
NeoBiocon.
Incorporated in January 2008, NeoBiocon FZ LLC is a research and marketing pharmaceutical company based in Abu Dhabi.
Biofusion Therapeutics Limited.
Incorporated in March of 2021, 100% owned by Biocon.
Strategic Partnerships.
Biocon and Amylin.
In 2009, Biocon and Amylin Pharmaceuticals of the United States entered into an agreement to develop, commercialise and manufacture a novel peptide therapeutic for the potential treatment of diabetes. Amylin provides expertise in peptide hormone development, particularly in the area of phybrid technology and metabolic disease therapeutics. Biocon will utilise its expertise in recombinant microbial expression and experience in preclinical and clinical development of diabetes products to manufacture the compound.
Biocon and IATRICa.
In 2008, Biocon and IATRICa of the United States announced a strategic partnership to co-develop immunoconjugates for targeted immunotherapy of cancers and infectious diseases. The companies are co-developing candidate products based upon IATRICa's technology platform and Biocon's expertise in drug development, biologics manufacturing, and clinical research. The goal of this collaboration is to develop a therapeutic vaccine where the T cell mediated immunity is enhanced and maintained against a tumor which otherwise evades immune responses. Methods of developing, characterising and scaling up of conjugated monoclonal antibody production are being currently studied.
Biocon and Mylan.
In 2009, Biocon signed a collaboration agreement with Mylan to develop and commercialize generic biologics. Mylan and Biocon will share development, capital and other costs to bring products to market. Mylan will have exclusive commercialisation rights in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, EU and European Free Trade Association countries through a profit sharing arrangement with Biocon.
Biocon and Optimer.
Biocon and Optimer Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious infections such as Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI), have entered into a long-term supply agreement for the commercial manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, fidaxomicin.,
Biocon and Vaccinex.
Biocon is also developing fully human antibodies BVX 10 and BVX-20 with a US antibody technology partner, Vaccinex. The partnership was initiated in 2004. BVX 10 targets TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which is expressed at high levels in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Biocon's strategic partnership with Vaccinex allows access to their proprietary human antibody platform technology, thereby providing a strong IP protection to Biocon's antibody pipeline.,
Biocon and Abraxis.
In 2007, Biocon and Abraxis BioScience, Inc. entered into an agreement which helped Biocon out-license the rights to develop and market a biosimilar version of GCSF (Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor) to North American and European markets.
Biocon and Sandoz.
In January 2018, Sandoz (a Novartis division) announced a global partnership with Biocon to develop, manufacture and commercialize multiple biosimilars in immunology and oncology for patients worldwide. .
Biocon technology.
Biocon's manufacturing facilities are located at two sites in Bangalore.
Research & development capabilities.
Biocon's R&D focuses on the entire drug development pathway – from process development to non-clinical and clinical research.
Products.
Biocon offers 36 brands of products across the four therapeutic divisions of diabetology, nephrology, oncology, and cardiology.