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INTRODUCTION
KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW (CHAIRMAN & MD BIOCON)
Her ambition was to make Biocon one of the world‟s top-five
biotech companies in the near future.
Biocon, the first Indian biotech company established in
Bangalore, was a fully integrated healthcare company that
delivered innovative biopharmaceutical solutions.
Biocon leveraged India's globally competitive cost base
exceptional scientific people resource to invest in R&D
programs, while providing custom & clinical research services to
international pharmaceutical & biotechnology majors through
their subsidiaries, syngene & clinigene.
CONTINUED…
In November 1978, Kiran joined Biocon biochemical's Ltd, Ireland
as a trainee manager. In the same year, Biocon was formed with Rs
1 lakh seed capital as a 70:30 joint venture of the Irish company
and Kiran Mazumdar, in small shed in koramangala in the outskirts
of Bangalore.
Biocon Ireland was a major buyer of papaine, extracted from
papaya, which was abundantly grown in India.
The company manufactured and exported papaine, a plant enzymes
and isin glass, a marine hydrocolloid, which were key products for
the brewing industry.
In 1979, Biocon was the first Indian company to manufacture &
export enzymes to USA & Europe.
CONTINUED…
Kiran started focusing on a niche, enzymes manufactured by
surface fermentation. As a technology, surface fermentation was
considered dated in the west because it was more labor intensive
and less controlled than submerged fermentation.
However, solid fermentation could give upto twenty times more
yield and some micro-organisms like fungi grew well in the solid
state.
Biocon decided to learn solid state fermentation but Biocon had
no R&D of it‟s own.
In 1984, Biocon began focusing on research and development to
develop novel enzymes for the Biocon Group worldwide, through
solid state fermentation process technology referred to as „koji
technology‟ .
CONTINUED…
In early 1980‟s, Kiran had met a student, Shrikumar
Suryanarayan from IIT, Madras, who wanted to buy enzymes
from her for his project. Kiran gave him the enzymes for free.
After two year, he came back after obtaining Mtech from IIT
Delhi. Kiran offered him to R&D for Biocon. He accepted and
designed the first fermenter in Biocon. This new reactor could
contain micro-organisms well. Biocon named this new reactor
Plafractor.
The traditional method did not lend itself to automation and
process control so volume were low but the Plafractor allowed
bulk production and critical fermentations. Things could be
added and taken out without disturbing the fermentation process
and it consumed less energy. Biocon‟s mastery of solid state
fermentation was a good strategic weapon.
CONTINUED…
US$250000 from ICICI Bank , Biocon was able to build a solid
state fermentation plant which helped in the growth of its R&D.
In 1989, the Irish Biocon was acquired by Unilever. In mid
1990s, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw decided to focus on
biopharmaceuticals rather than enzymes. But Unilever, a major
shareholder, did not want to be in the biopharmaceuticals business.
At that time, John Shaw, whom Kiran had married in 1998, used
his savings to reclaim the entire Biocon stakes from Unilever.
In 1997, Biocon merged with Helix Biotech Ltd which was
incorporated in 1989 as a Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Company.
In Nov 1993, Biocon established Syngene International ltd as a
custom research company to address the growing need for
outsourced R&D in the pharmaceutical sector.
CONTINUED…
Biocon becomes the first Indian company to be approved by US
FDA for the manufacture of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering
molecule. Biocon‟s proprietary bioreactor, Plafractor is granted
US 2001 & world wide patent.
In late 90‟s Biocon establishes Clinigene, India‟s first clinical
research organization to pursue clinical research & development.
Biocon had an impressive track record of commercialization
capabilities. Biocon also marketed a basket of branded
formulation in India; like INSUGEN, BIOMAB EGFR and EPO.
Biocon launched India‟s first anti-cancer drug BIOMAB EGFR.
With the successful commercial launch of the first anti-cancer
drug and several promising discovery partnerships in the clinic,
Biocon envisioned scaling new heights in frontier science and
achieving new milestones in affordable medicine.
HUMAN CAPITAL
The ability to attract and motivate good people was a key factor
behind biocon‟s success.
•Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is aware that the real opportunity lies in the
US and Western Europe, where hundred of billions of dollar are
spent on pharmaceuticals every year. However she also realizes that
such markets are difficult to enter as regulatory charges are high and
there are many large competitors, much larger than Biocon