The vision "committed to reduce therapy costs of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune diseases by leveraging India's cost advantage to deliver affordable healthcare solutions to patients, partners and healthcare systems across the globe" defines the objective of the industry.

Biocon was initiated in the year 1978 by Mrs. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw with a mere amount of 10,000 in a garage of a rented house with just two employees. They started with blending enzymes and supplying them to different consumer industries like, brewing, textiles, biofuels, animal feed and other such industries across the world. Then they entered into biopharmaceuticals arena. They manufactured generic drugs according to the standard protocol set by ICH-GCP. Thus, reducing the cost price of expensive drugs and making it affordable to the poor and needy population of developing countries. Biocon even innovated its first recombinant human insulin Insugen in India.

Biocon headquartered in Bangalore, India has expanded its regime across the globe. They have their branches in Malaysia, UAE, Europe, etc. The industry's Corporate Social Responsibility wing, the Biocon Foundation, is involved in a plethora of health and education outreach programs targeting the underprivileged sections of India.


Biocon's sister company Syngene and Clinigene are clinical research organisation involved in drug development. They offer integrated discovery and development solutions for both small and large molecules. They have collaborated with more than 100 global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. They develop the drugs for the following specialization.
• Oncology- tumors, glioma, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Head and Neck Cancer, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL), Metastatic Breast Cancer.
• Diabetology- Type 1 & 2 Diabetes mellitus.
• Orthopedics- Osteoporosis and Chronic low back pain.
• Nephrology- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and anemia in CKD.
• Rheumatology- Rheumatoid arthritis.

Till date, Clinigene has conducted over 200 clinical trials with the aid of large number of GCP certified investigators throughout India. They have manufactured 96 oncology and 120 diabetes related drugs. India is considered as the hub of clinical research due to its large heterogenous population, advanced technology, infrastructure, highly qualified medical officers and increasing number of contract research organisations.
Syngene, its subsidiary company is a CRO involved in early stages of drug discovery and development.

Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Limited (BBL) started in collaboration with CIMAB to develop and market a range of monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines. In March 2010, Biocon acquired CIMAB's 49% stake and BBL became a 100% subsidiary which was a huge success for the industry.

Biocon has its subsidiary in Switzerland as well which is primarily involved in the development and commercialization of biopharmaceuticals around the world. The clinical development of insulin is currently ongoing in the European region.

Biocon Research Limited (BRL) is working in the arena of development and research work in biologics, antibody molecules and proteins. BRL along with Mylan continues to progress the development activity on the monoclonal antibody program. Being a research oriented sector, the Company is in its initial stage of operations and has enlarged its scope to other challenging research projects during the year.

The company's branch in Malaysia is set up as a state of the art manufacturing facility at BioXcell a biotechnology park promoted by the Government of Malaysia. In the first phase of capital outlay, the Company envisages an investment of US$ 161 million and expects the facility to go on floor by year 2015.

Another branch, NeoBiocon FZ LLC is a research and marketing pharmaceutical company based in Abu Dhabi. Biocon laid this sector in UAE in January 2008, with 50% partnership with another pharmaceutical company NeoPharma at Abu Dhabi.

From 1978 to 2013, from a garage to several headquarters across the world, from two employees to millions of working hands, the company has marked its epitome of excellence. The journey of conquering the whole world in the field of biopharmaceuticals.

About Author / Additional Info:
Geetanjali Murari
geetanjali1232@gmail.com