Biocon India

Biocon is India's leading integrated biotechnology enterprise focused on the development of biopharmaceuticals. Since its inception Biocon has evolved from an enzyme manufacturing company to a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise, focused on healthcare. Biocon has successfully forayed into drug discovery and development. It has developed innovative and effective biomolecules in diabetology, oncology, cardiology and other therapeutic segments. Biocon delivers products and solutions to partners and customers in over 50 countries.

Biocon was founded on November 29, 1978 as a joint venture between Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. of Ireland and an Indian entrepreneur, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. In 1979, Biocon became the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to USA and Europe. Unilever plc. acquired Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. in Ireland in 1979 and merged it with its subsidiary, Quest International. In 1989, Biocon became the first Indian biotech company to receive US funding for proprietary technologies. In 1993, Biocon's R&D and manufacturing facilities received ISO 9001 certification from RWTUV, Germany. In 1994, Biocon established a subsidiary Syngene International Pvt. Ltd to address the growing need for outsourced R&D in the pharmaceutical sector. In 1996, Biocon entered the biopharmaceuticals and statins segment. In 1998, Unilever sold its shareholding in Biocon to the Indian promoters and Biocon became an independent entity. In 2000 Biocon commissioned its first fully automated submerged fermentation plant to produce speciality pharmaceuticals. In the same year Clinigene, India's first clinical research organisation and a subsidiary of Biocon, was set up to pursue clinical research and development. In 2001, Biocon became the first Indian company to be approved by US FDA for the manufacture of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering molecule. In 2003 Biocon became the first company worldwide to develop human insulin on a Pichia expression system. In 2004, Biocon entered the stock market with its IPO and became only the second Indian company to cross the $ 1 billion mark on the day of listing. In 2006, Biocon launched India's first cancer drug BIOMAb EGFR.

Products & Services Offered by Biocon:

1. Biopharmaceuticals: Today, Biocon is a leading biopharmaceutical company with strong capabilities in statins, immunosuppressants, recombinant insulin and a wide product range across key therapeutic segments including diabetology, cardiology and oncology. Following biopharmaceutical products are offered by Biocon:

2. Enzymes: Biocon is India's largest producer and exporter of enzymes. It manufactures and markets a broad range of industrial enzymes, food additives and process aids. Biocon is the first enzyme company globally to receive the ISO 9001 accreditation. Enzymes manufactured by Biocon are: Amylases, Amyloglucosidases, Cellulases, Catalase, Lipases, Glucanases, Hemicellulases, Phytases, Proteases, and Pectinases.

3. Custom Research: Biocon subsidiary Syngene conduct high value R&D in early stage drug discovery and development for a diverse global clientele.

4. Clinical Research: Biocon subsidiary Clinigene offers global biotechnology and pharmaceutical majors strong clinical trial services, regulatory and laboratory capabilities for clinical drug development. Its value added services include value-added services include patient registries and clinical databases in diabetes, lipidemia, oncology, cardiovascular diseases.

Major Achievements of Biocon:

Note: The above information was last updated on 21-07-2007