Milestones

November 29, 1978

Biocon’s Founding Day - the start of a biorevolution in India. Over the years, Biocon has evolved from an enzyme-manufacturing company into a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise. Today, we leverage a formidable combination of proprietary fermentation technologies and research skills to develop affordable therapy for unmet medical needs.

Biocon India is incorporated as a joint venture between Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. of Ireland and an Indian entrepreneur, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

1979

Biocon is the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to USA and Europe

1989

Unilever plc. acquires Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. in Ireland and merges it with its subsidiary, Quest International

Biocon is the first Indian biotech company to receive US funding for proprietary technologies

1990

Biocon scales up its in-house research programme, based on a proprietary solid substrate fermentation technology, from pilot to plant level

1993

Biocon's R&D and manufacturing facilities receive ISO 9001 certification from RWTUV, Germany

1994

Biocon establishes Syngene International Pvt. Ltd. as a Custom research Company (CRC) to address the growing need for outsourced R&D in the pharmaceutical sector

1996

The commercial success of Biocon's proprietary fermentation plant leads to a 3-fold expansion

Biocon leverages its technology platform to enter biopharmaceuticals and statins

1997

Biocon spearheads initiatives in human healthcare through a dedicated manufacturing facility

1998

Unilever inks a deal with ICI to sell its specialty chemicals division of which Quest International is a part. Unilever agrees to sell its shareholding in Biocon to the Indian promoters. Biocon becomes an independent entity

2000

Biocon commissions its first fully automated submerged fermentation plant to produce specialty pharmaceuticals

Biocon establishes Clinigene, India's first Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) to pursue clinical research and development

2001

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 a US 2001 and world-wide patent

2002

Clinigene's clinical laboratory is the first in India to receive CAP accreditation

2003

Biocon is the first company worldwide to develop human insulin on a Pichia expression system

2004

Biocon creates a buzz in the stock market in March 2004 with its hugely successful IPO. Day 1 on the bourses closes with a market value of $1.11 billion, making Biocon only the second Indian company to cross the $1 billion mark on the first day of listing.

Syngene establishes new research centre

Biocon Limited, announces the launch of INSUGEN®, the new generation bio-insulin, manufactured in Asia's largest human insulin plant.

Biocon Limited and Vaccinex, Inc. announce a broad strategic partnership to discover and co-develop at least four therapeutic antibody products.

2005

Biocon signs a commercial agreement for supply of insulin API to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

2006

Biocon inaugurates Biocon Biopharmaceuticals, India's largest multi-product Biologics facility at Biocon Park

Biocon inaugurates Biocon Park, India's largest integrated biotechnology hub, comprising an integrated cluster of research laboratories and manufacturing facilities spread across 90 acres in KIADB (Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board) industrial estate.

Biocon announces a licensing agreement with Bayer HealthCare (BHC) for the exclusive marketing and trademark rights for INSUGEN^® for the Chinese market.

Syngene and Innate Pharmaceuticals AB, Umea, Sweden conclude a cooperation agreement to jointly develop, manufacture and market virulence blockers to counteract bacterial diarrhoeal disease.

Biocon launches India's first anti-cancer drug BIOMAb EGFR^®.

2007

Biocon and Abu Dhabi based pharmaceutical company Neopharma sign an MOU to establish a JV to manufacture and market a range of biopharmaceuticals for the GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council).

Biocon grants exclusive license to Ferozsons Laboratories Limited for marketing BIOMAb EGFR^® in Pakistan.

Biocon announces the launch of its Nephrology Division and a comprehensive portfolio of renal therapy products.

Syngene enters into a research partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb and completes the ground breaking ceremony of new research facility at Biocon Park.

Biocon signs Memorandum of Understanding with Deakin University, Australia. To establish Deakin Research Institute in Bangalore

Biocon divests enzymes division for USD 115 million to Novozymes. Biocon business portfolio to focus on biopharmaceuticals

Biocon and Abraxis BioScience, announce an agreement wherein Abraxis will license the right to develop a biosimilar version of G-CSF (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) in North America and the European Union.

Biocon and Neopharma sign an MoU to establish Neobiocon, a joint venture company in Dubai's biotechnology and research park, Dubiotech.

2008

Biocon acquires a 78% stake in German pharmaceutical company, AxiCorp GmbH for a consideration of €30 Million

Biocon launches a Safety Device in the form of pre-filled syringes for two of its life saving products, GCSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) and EPO (Erythropoietin) in collaboration with Safety Syringes Inc. ERYPRO Safe^™ and NUFIL Safe^™ are the first two drugs that will marketed using this novel device with other injectable products to follow in the future.

Biocon and Abraxis Bioscience launch ABRAXANE in India for treatment of Breast Cancer.

Biocon is ranked among the top 20 global biotechnology companies (Med Ad News).

Biocon is the 7th largest biotech employer in the world (Med Ad News).

Biocon announced the results of an ascending dose study on its oral insulin drug (IN-105) at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Rome.

NeoBiocon and Abraxis Bioscience launch Abraxane in The UAE for the treatment of Breast Cancer.

2009

Biocon's Syngene partners with Sapient Discovery to expand integrated drug discovery offerings

Biocon's Syngene and DuPont Crop Protection Forge Alliance Partnership

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Biocon's Syngene open new R&D Facility at Biocon Park

Biocon launches BASALOG - long lasting basal insulin for Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetics

Biocon inks partnership with ISB to launch the Biocon Cell for Innovation Management

Biocon Announces Strategic Collaboration with Mylan to enter the Global Generic Biologics Market

Biocon Limited and Amylin Pharmaceuticals entered into a Global Development and Commercialization Agreement for a Novel Peptide Hybrid. The Program will focus on the potential treatment of diabetes.

Biocon and HCG group of hospitals join hands to fight against cervical

2010

Biocon explores investment in Malaysia in partnership with BiotechCorp

Biocon and Bayer join hands to create awareness for self monitoring for diabetics

Syngene and Endo Pharmaceuticals, USA  to  jointly discover and develop novel biological drug molecules to fight cancer

Biocon acquires stake of its Cuban partner CIMAB S.A. in their seven year old JV, Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd

Biocon and Optimer Pharmaceuticals announce manufacturing and supply agreement for a novel API, first-in-class anti-infective (C. difficile)

Biocon and the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), based in Havana, Cuba strengthen their existing research   partnership by joining forces for an integrated antibody program in immunology

Biocon announces a strategic foreign direct investment in Malaysia with the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation SdnBhd (BiotechCorp)

2011

Biocon divests its stake in its German subsidiary, AxiCorp GmbH, to the existing group of promoter shareholders, AxiCorp was the licensee for Biocon's biosimilar Insulin and Glargine in Germany and had the sole responsibility for commercializing these products. As a consequence of this divestment, these rights revert to Biocon.

Biocon launches INSUPen^®, a convenient and affordable reusable insulin delivery device.

2012

Biocon announced Positive Results from its Global Phase 3 study with Recombinant Human Insulin

GE Capital invests in Syngene, Biocon's Research Services Subsidiary

Biocon announced Positive Efficacy Data from Phase 3 clinical study with its Novel Monoclonal Antibody, Itolizumab for Psoiasis

Syngene - a subsidiary of Biocon Group, in collaboration with Abbot, setup a dedicated Nutrition Research and Development Center at Biocon Park

Biocon announced positive results from its Phase 1 Comparative PK-PD Study with Biosimilar Insulin Glargine

Biocon: the only Asian Company to Feature in the Global Top 20 BioPharma Employers, by Science Magazine

2013

Biocon received Marketing Authorization from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for its Novel Biologic Itolizumab, anti CD6 molecule, for the treatment of chronic plaque Psoriasis

Biocon enhances Partnership with Mylan through Strategic Collaboration for Insulin Products