Biocon
Biocon Limited is an Indian biopharmaceutical company based in Bengaluru, with U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The company was founded by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in 1978. The company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients that are sold in approximately 120 countries, including 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.
Biocon's formulations for the Indian market include metabolics, oncology, immunotherapy, and nephrology products. Some of Biocon's key brands in India include INSUGEN, BASALOG, BIOMAb EGFR, BLISTO, CANMAb, Evertor, TACROGRAF, ALZUMAb and KRABEVA.
Syngene International Limited is a publicly listed subsidiary of Biocon, operating in the contract research and development organization.
History
Biocon was founded in 1978 with US$10,000 as the initial capital by a Kiran Mazumdar who was born to Gujarati parents in Bangaluru.In 1979, Biocon became the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to the US and Europe.
In 1989, Unilever acquired Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. in Ireland and merged it with its subsidiary Quest International. Biocon received US funding for proprietary technologies.
In 1994, Biocon established Syngene International as a custom research company.
During 1998, Unilever agreed to sell its shareholding in Biocon to the Indian promoters. Biocon became an independent entity.
In 2001, Biocon became the first Indian company to be approved by the USFDA for the manufacture of lovastatin; PlaFractor was granted a US 2001 and worldwide patent.
In 2003, Biocon became the first company worldwide to develop human insulin on a pichia expression system.
In 2006, BIOMAb EGFR, the first indigenously developed humanised monoclonal antibody for head-and-neck cancer, was launched, and APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurated India's largest biotech-hub, Biocon Park.
In 2008, Biocon acquired a 70% stake in German pharmaceutical company AxiCorp GmbH.
During 2009, a Syngene-Bristol Myers Squibb research facility was established in Bengaluru.
Later in 2009, Mylan announced a strategic collaboration with Biocon to enter the global generic biologics market.
In 2010, Biocon expanded to Malaysia, with a biopharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D facility established in Iskandar, Johor.
In 2012, Abbott announced a collaboration with Syngene to open the first nutrition R&D center in India.
During 2013, Biocon launched the biologic drug ALZUMAb to treat psoriasis.
During 2014, Biocon launched the first biosimilar drug, CANMAb, to treat breast cancer.
In 2015, Biocon launched a hepatitis-C drug in India under the brand name CIMIVIR-L.
In 2016, Biocon became the first Indian company to launch a biosimilar insulin glargine pen in Japan.
During 2016, Syngene set up an Amgen R&D center in Bangalore.
In 2017, Biocon's Insugen became the first locally manufactured biosimilar product to be approved for sale by the Malaysian drug regulator.
In 2017, USFDA approved Mylan-Biocon's biosimilar for the cancer drug Herceptin.
During 2018, Biocon and Mylan received the European Commission's approval to market the biosimilar insulin glargine.
During 2021, Biocon Biologics and Serum Institute of India formed a joint agreement to commercialise vaccines, biological drugs, and antibody therapies together. Another aspect of the deal involved Bicocon selling 15% of its biologics subsidiary to the Serum Institute of India, in return for Biocon gaining access to 100 million annual doses of vaccines for a 15-year period.
During 2022, Biocon Biologics bought the biosimilar assets of Viatris for $3.34 billion.
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. She was called India's "biotech queen" by The Economist and India's "mother of invention" by The New York Times. She was named among Time magazine's 2010 100 most influential people in the world, not only due to her contribution to the biotech industry, but also because she gives back to the community. Shaw has been featured on the Forbes list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and in the 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, the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, for her pioneering efforts in industrial biotechnology.
Christiane Hamacher was appointed as the CEO of Biocon Biologic India Limited, with her term starting in March 2019.
On 3 December 2019, Siddharth Mittal took over from Arun Chandavarkar, who retired as CEO and joint managing director of Biocon.
In 2021, Hamacher resigned from her position, following differences with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.