Biocon Q2 FY17 Revenue Up 21%; EBITDA Up 45%; Revenues at Rs 992 Crs.; EBITDA at Rs 277 Crs.; Net Profit at Rs 147 Crs.

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India: October 20, 2016

Biocon Ltd (BSE code: 532523, NSE: BIOCON), Asia’s premier biopharmaceuticals company, announced today its consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended on September 30th, 2016.

Commenting on the quarterly performance and highlights, Chairperson and Managing Director, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw stated: “Our performance in Q2 FY17, was led by strong growth across Small Molecules, Biologics and Research Services. Expansion of our biologics footprint in emerging markets and licensing agreements boosted the revenue further. Our ready-to-use Insulin Glargine pen launched in Japan has been well received which augurs well for this business. The acceptance of our proposed biosimilar Trastuzumab filing for review by EMA was a critical milestone this quarter. This is our second filing in EU. The tentative USFDA approval for Rosuvastatin calcium tablets heralds our entry into the US generics market.”

She added: “Our long term investments in R&D, manufacturing facility in Malaysia and clinical advancement of our programs will enable us to unlock greater value, going forward.”

Highlights of Q2 FY17:

• • European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted for review    Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for proposed    biosimilar Trastuzumab co-developed by Biocon and Mylan;    first MAA for Trastuzumab biosimilar to be submitted in the    regulated markets.
  • Generic Rosuvastatin Calcium tablets received Tentative    Approval from US FDA; first for Biocon’s Generic Formulations    business.
  • Glargine pen launched in Japan has been well received,    prescriptions beginning to gain traction.
  • Expanded footprint of our Biologics business in emerging    markets through licensing arrangements.
  • Suresh Subramanian has been appointed as Senior Vice    President & Head of Branded Formulations – India, business.
  • Biocon facilities in India, successfully completed regulatory    audits by some international agencies like US FDA and MCC    South Africa.
  • Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw conferred ‘Knight of the Legion of    Honour’ by France for her constant contribution and dedication    to the Biosciences and Research field globally.
  • Biocon was recognized as the ‘Biotechnology Company of the    Year’ at Frost & Sullivan India Best Practices Award 2016, for  innovation and achievements across the healthcare spectrum.
  • Biocon Foundation named among the winners of the CSR    Impact Awards 2016 for ‘Primary Healthcare – eLAJ clinics’    project.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS: Q2 FY17

In Rs Crore, except growth numbers (As per IGAAP)

*Net Profit margin after excluding for exceptional items in Q2 FY16

Notes: Figures above are rounded off to the nearest Cr; % based on absolute nos.

For financials in IGAAP kindly refer to the fact sheet

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY

PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Biocon reported a robust performance with a revenue growth of 21% at Rs 992 Cr led by a strong growth of Small Molecules, Biologics and Syngene. Licensing Income this quarter stood at Rs 32 Cr while Other Income reported was Rs 52 Cr.

EBITDA rose 45% to Rs 277 Cr; Net Profit stood at Rs 147 Cr a growth of 52% over last year (after excluding impact of exceptional items due to INDAS adjustment to Q2FY16 numbers)

Net R&D spends during the quarter stood at Rs. 65 Cr, an increase of 14% YOY. At a Gross level, R&D spends in Q2 were Rs 113 Cr.

SMALL MOLECULES

The Small Molecules business delivered revenue of Rs 389 Cr, a robust growth of 15% led by a better product-mix of differentiated APIs and a higher contribution from statins. Sales in emerging markets of AFMET, LATAM as well as sales to India based customers servicing the needs of the US market made a significant contribution to the improved performance of this business.

Our Generic Formulations business marked a key milestone in the second quarter following the receipt of a Tentative Approval from the US FDA for generic Rosuvastatin Calcium tablets, which is a first for Biocon. Commercial launch preparations for Rosuvastatin Calcium in US are underway.

BIOLOGICS

The Biologics vertical comprising Novel Biologics and Biosimilars, including rh-insulin, insulin analogs, monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, reported a strong growth of 26% at Rs 96 Cr on account of good performance in key emerging markets.

We made significant progress with Trastuzumab sales and licensing in some of the key emerging markets of AFMET and LATAM, which augurs well for this business.

Biocon is among the first wave of biosimilars players, and is well positioned to leverage the global biosimilars opportunity along with its partner Mylan. Our portfolio of follow-on biologics continues to make good clinical progress.

Biosimilars
Monoclonal Antibodies & Recombinant Proteins

The Biocon-Mylan global partnership for Generic Insulins and Biosimilars is progressing well with products on track for filing during FY17. During Q2 FY17, the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for a proposed biosimilar Trastuzumab for treating certain HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers was accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for review.

This is the second biosimilar submission developed by the partnership that has been accepted for review in Europe. Earlier in FY17, Mylan’s MAA for the proposed biosimilar Pegfilgrastim was also accepted for review by EMA.

The results of two pivotal Pegfilgrastim studies were presented at the prestigious European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress at Copenhagen, Denmark. The findings of these studies have confirmed the comparability of the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity profiles of Pegfilgrastim versus the reference product.

Also, in continuation to the Trastuzumab biosimilar Phase III data (from the HERITAGE study) presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) earlier this year, 48-week data from the same study was presented at ESMO. These data confirmed the clinical similarity of Trastuzumab and the reference product at 48 weeks.

The encouraging clinical advancement of our programs puts us on track for regulatory filings for some of these molecules in the developed markets in FY17.

Insulins & Analogs

Biocon’s ready-to-use, prefilled disposable Insulin Glargine pen launched in Japan by our partner FUJIFILM Pharma (FFP) earlier this quarter, has been well received and is likely to make significant inroads in this stringent market. This augurs well for our filings in some of the other developed markets.

Regulatory filings are underway to enable commercial sales from the new Malaysian facility, to some of the emerging markets.

Novel Biologics

The clinical development of our two novel assets – Insulin Tregopil and the first-in-class anti-CD6 antibody, Itolizumab – is on track. We have finalized the clinical study design for a non-inferiority Phase II/III study of Insulin Tregopil. For Itolizumab, the Phase I trial is in progress and in addition, we have initiated a psoriasis biomarker study in India.

Two scientific papers on the use of ALZUMAb^™ (Itolizumab) in psoriasis have been accepted for publication in international journals: the Dermatology and Research Practise and Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.

BRANDED FORMULATIONS

The Branded Formulations business includes our finished dosages business in India and overseas including UAE. Q2 FY17 sales at Rs 137 Cr reported a growth of 15 %.

Business was impacted as some of our key products were brought under drug price control in India. Most of our key brands continue to garner growth in terms of prescriber- base and prescriptions.

Our Oncology franchise comprising several specialty products like BIOMAb-EGFR^™, CANMAb^™, EVERTOR^™, Genxtor^™, Nufil SF^™ etc. continues to benefit several thousand patients. However, we will no longer be offering Abraxane^®, an in-licensed product, for sale due to a decision taken by the licensor to discontinue supplies.

New Appointment:

Mr Suresh Subramanian has been appointed as Senior Vice President and Head of the Company’s Branded Formulations (India) business. He has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceuticals market and a proven track record of delivering robust business growth. Suresh has worked with several multinational companies including GSK, Novartis, AstraZeneca and Pfizer. He has deep expertise in diverse therapy areas including Oncology, Cardiology and Critical Care.

RESEARCH SERVICES – SYNGENE

Our Research Services business through Syngene reported a strong revenue growth of 14% to Rs 286 Cr. During the quarter, Syngene acquired the bioinformatics platforms of Strand Life Sciences to complement its existing integrated service platforms and also meet its customers’ growing needs for bioinformatics and data analytic support. Syngene also commissioned a new state-of-the-art dedicated R&D center for Amgen, which will be staffed by a team of more than 100 highly qualified Syngene scientists working in close association with Amgen researchers around the world on the discovery and development of innovative medicines. This is Syngene’s fourth dedicated R&D Centre, it already operates exclusive R&D centers for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Nutrition and Baxter Inc.

Enclosed: Fact Sheet with Financials as per IND-AS

About Biocon Ltd:
Biocon Limited, publicly listed in 2004, (BSE code: 532523, NSE Id: BIOCON, ISIN Id: INE376G01013) is India’s largest and fully-integrated, innovation-led biopharmaceutical company. As an emerging global biopharmaceutical enterprise serving customers in over 100 countries, it is committed to reduce therapy costs of chronic diseases like autoimmune, diabetes, and cancer. Through innovative products and research services it is enabling access to affordable healthcare for patients, partners and healthcare systems across the globe. It has successfully developed and taken a range of Novel Biologics, Biosimilars, differentiated Small Molecules and affordable Recombinant Human Insulin and Analogs from ‘Lab to Market’. Some of its key brands are INSUGEN^®(rh-insulin), BASALOG^® (Glargine), CANMAb^™ (Trastuzumab), BIOMAb-EGFR^™ (Nimotuzumab) and ALZUMAb^™ (Itolizumab), a ‘first in class’ anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody. It has a rich pipeline of Biosimilars and Novel Biologics at various stages of development. Visit: www.biocon.com

Earnings Call

The company will conduct a call at 9.00 AM IST on Oct 21, 2016 where the senior management will discuss the company’s performance and answer questions from participants. To participate in this conference call, please dial the numbers provided below ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. The dial-in number for this call is +91-22-3938 1081/ 6746 5891. Other toll numbers are listed in the conference call invite which is posted on the company website archive.biocon.com. The operator will provide instructions on asking questions before the start of the call. A replay of this call will also be available from the conclusion of the call till Oct 29, 2016 on +91 22 6181 3322/ 3065 2322, Playback ID: 44711. Transcript of the conference call will be uploaded on the company website in due course.

Disclaimer
This press release may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Biocon and its subsidiaries / associates. These forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, amongst other: general economic and business conditions in India and overseas, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, our research and development efforts, our growth and expansion plans and technological changes, changes in the value of the Rupee and other currency changes, changes in the Indian and international interest rates, change in laws and regulations that apply to the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, increasing competition in and the conditions of the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, changes in political conditions in India and changes in the foreign exchange control regulations in India. Neither Biocon, nor our Directors, or any of our subsidiaries/associates assume any obligation to update any particular forward-looking statement contained in this release.