Biocon Bangalore

Electronics City is home to Biocon’s corporate headquarters and to the brand new 90 acre, Rs 650 crore (US $160 million) Biocon Park. This is where Biocon has Asia's largest insulin facility, statin facility and perfusion based antibody production facility. This Rs 990 crore (US $250 million) company is the global standard bearer for India’s next big export sector after information technology.

India’s first and biggest biotechnology company and Asia’s leading biotech firm was launched in 1978 in Mazumdar Shaw’s garage with just Rs 10000 (US $250). It broke new ground in an era when biotechnology was unheard of. “Initially, I faced credibility challenges: my youth, my gender and my unfamiliar business model posed enormous obstacles. Funding was not easy to come by either,” she says.

In those pre-liberalisation days, awareness was even harder to find. Shaw’s single-minded determination first led to Biocon India being incorporated as a joint venture with Biocon Biochemicals Ltd of Ireland in 1978. Unilever plc acquired Biocon Biochemicals Ltd in Ireland and merged it with its subsidiary, Quest International and in 1998, it sold its stake in Biocon to its Indian promoters.

As an independent entity, Biocon geared up for its first IPO offered in 2004, which was over-subscribed more than 30 times, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations. Shaw attributes it to the company’s “ability to continuously scale new heights across the biopharmaceutical value chain”. It made Shaw India’s richest woman, with an estimated worth of Rs 2100 crore (US $480 million).

Her leadership and pioneering insight earned her the title ‘India's Biotech Queen’ and the Indian Government awarded her two coveted awards - the Padma Shri in 1989 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. The industry has also recognised her achievements: she won the first Veuve Clicquot Initiative for Economic Development for Asia in October 2007, the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award in 2006, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Indian Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Honorary Doctorate of Science from Ballarat University, The Economic Times Business Woman of the Year Award in 2004, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Healthcare & Life Sciences Category in 2002 and the MV Memorial Award instituted in honour of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the pioneering engineer who laid the foundation for Karnataka’s industrial growth.

With a 3000 strong team, Biocon offers comprehensive services and solutions in the field of biopharmaceuticals – drugs that can effectively combat cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. For instance, its new drug BIOMAb EGFR fights a variety of cancers. Through its subsidiary companies Syngene and Clinigene, Biocon also undertakes clinical research for global pharma companies that look to India for reliable and cost effective medical research.

Syngene, a custom research organisation, specialises in pre-clinical discovery, providing tailored solutions to companies in the fields of molecular biology and synthetic chemistry. The focus of Clinigene is clinical development, and Biocon rounds up the biotechnology bouquet by handling the commercial side of research – marketing.

Biocon’s contribution to biopharmaceuticals includes anti-diabetic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-oxidants, cardiovascular agents, immunosuppressants, hepatoprotective agents, digestive-aid enzymes and haemostatic agents. Advanced scientific know-how from different streams has helped the company diversify its capabilities and manufacturing prowess.

Drawing on scientists from the world’s leading institutes for research, Biocon’s roster of employees is impressive: 10 per cent hold Ph.D. degrees, 30 per cent have Master’s degrees in science and the remaining are graduates in science, commerce or arts. 30 per cent of Biocon scientists are women. To add to its current portfolio of services and products, Biocon is looking at acquisitions and partnerships with leading pharma companies like Bayer. Biocon recently formed a joint venture with Neopharma, called Neobiocon in Dubai’s biotechnology and research park, Dubiotech.