BIOCON
Biocon Limited (BSE: 532523) is a global biopharmaceutical company with products and research services ranging from pre-clinical to clinical development through to commercialization.[ref 1] Within biopharmaceuticals, the Company manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) like Statins and Immunosuppressants that are sold in the developed markets of the United States and Europe. It also manufactures biosimilar Insulins, which are sold in India as branded formulations and in both bulk and formulation forms. In research services, Syngene International Limited (Syngene) is engaged in the business of custom research in drug discovery while the other fully owned subsidiary Clinigene International Limited (Clinigene) is in the clinical development space. In December 2009, Biocon acquired the Active Pharma Ingredients (API) undertaking from IDL Speciality Chemicals Ltd., a subsidiary of Gulf Oil Corporation Limited.
Located in Bangalore, India, Biocon has two subsidiaries, Syngene, a custom research organization, and Clinigene, a clinical research organization. Biocons presence straddles four main therapeutic areas Diabetology, Cardiology, Nephrology and Oncology even as it plans to introduce two new divisions, Comprehensive Care, and Immunotherapy, this year.
Biocons cardiology, nephrology, diabetology and oncology products including BESTOR®, BASALOGTM, BioMAb EGFR®, STATIX®, NUFIL safeTM, INSUGEN®, TACROGRAFTM, ERYPRO safeTM, and MYOKINASETM are considerably less expensive than other leading brands.[ref 1] Two of its novel programs on the verge of proof-of-concept stage are IN-105, which is the only oral insulin in the world to be in long duration clinical trials, and the T1h, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody (MAb), the only first-in-class novel MAb being tested in India for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.[ref 1][ref 2]
Between 2005 and 2010, Biocon entered into more than 2,200 high-value R&D licensing and other deals within the pharmaceuticals and bio-pharmaceutical space.[ref 1] It has also expanded its global footprint to emerging and developed markets through acquisitions, partnerships and in-licensing. Biocons Corporate Social Responsibility wing, the Biocon Foundation, is involved in numerous health and education outreach programs targeting the underprivileged sections of India.
In 2009-10, Biocons net income increased 44% to Rs. 24,048 million, crossing the half-billion-dollar mark and profits grew 215% to Rs. 2,933 million. The pharmaceutical business exceeded Rs. 200,871 million in revenue and the net R&D expenditure increased to Rs. 917 million, growing 42% over 2008 and up 282% over 2005, while its research services business crossed Rs. 2,807 million.[ref 1]
Biocon, Syngene and Clinigene together employ approximately 4,500 personnel including biologists, chemists, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, engineers, finance/legal/marketing analysts, HR generalists and general administrators. Around 6% of its employees have PhD degrees, 45% have a masters degree, and 33% are graduates. Biocon also collaborates with educational institutes to make courses more industry oriented.[ref 1]
