Biocon


Biocon Limited is an Indian biopharmaceutical company based in Bangalore, India by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the founder. The Company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients 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 research services, Syngene International Limited, a publicly listed subsidiary of Biocon.
Biocon's formulations for the Indian market include Metabolics, Oncology, Immunotherapy, Nephrology and Specialty. Some of Biocon's key brands in India include INSUGEN, BASALOG, BIOMAb EGFR, BLISTO, CANMAb, Evertor, TACROGRAF, ALZUMAb and KRABEVA.
Biocon and Syngene together employ about 9200 personnel.
On 3rd Dec'19, Siddharth Mittal takes over from Dr Arun Chandavarkar who retired as Chief Executive Officer & Joint Managing Director of Biocon on November 30, 2019, after 29 years of contribution to the evolution and success of Biocon.

History

Biocon was founded in 1978 with as the initial capital.
Biocon's first product to go to market was papain, an enzyme found in papaya which is used to prevent beer from turning hazy. Until 1983, the company blended enzymes and supplied them to brewing, textiles, biofuels, animal feed and other such industries across the world.
In 1989, the Irish Biocon was acquired by Unilever.
Biocon's milestone events in each year are as follows:
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 termed 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
Ms. 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 and Padma Bhushan for her pioneering efforts in Industrial Biotechnology.
Born on 23 March 1953 in Bangalore, Ms. Shaw received a graduate honours degree in Zoology from Bangalore University and qualified as a Master Brewer from Ballarat University, Australia. She received an honorary Doctorate of Science in 2004 from Ballarat University in recognition of her contributions to biotechnology.
Biocon announced that Dr. Christiane Hamacher has been appointed as the CEO of Biocon Biologic India Limited effective from March 2019.

Subsidiaries, Acquisitions and Strategic Global Alliances

Syngene International Ltd

Established in 1993, Syngene International Limited is Biocon's custom research organisation offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology majors customised 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. 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.

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, 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 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 to North American and European markets.

Biocon and Sandoz

In January 2018, Sandoz 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 discovery-led R&D focuses on the entire drug development pathway – from process development, to non-clinical and clinical research.

Products

Biocon's portfolio consists of 36 brands across the four therapeutic divisions of Diabetology, Nephrology, Oncology and Cardiology.