Biocon hiring 300 scientists for new R&D complex in India

Posted under Biocon, Biologics, Blog, Companies, Diagnostics, Emerging Markets, Funding, india, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Kurt Wuthrich, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, R&D, Startups, Universities, Videos by john

India's Biocon cut the ribbon on a new biologics R&D complex that will host a multi-disciplinary group of more than 300 scientists developing a new generation of "affordable" biologics. Nobel Laureate Kurt Wuthrich will helm the center, which is billed as the first of its kind in southeast Asia.

Biocon, which has experienced its own setbacks in drug development, has set its sights on expanding its work on novel therapies. Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (photo), who built the company from scratch, has championed the country's drug development community. And she's been hiring an international group of investigators expert in molecular biology, biologics process sciences, formulation research and preclinical and clinical development. 

"I am enthralled with Biocon's research capabilities which are at par with international standards. I will keenly watch the outcome of innovation from this centre as I see a lot of promise in scientific talent here," said Wuthrich in a statement.

"We aspire to build a center of research excellence that will pursue an innovation-led effort to develop advanced yet affordable solutions for several debilitating diseases," says Mazumdar-Shaw. "It will epitomize Biocon's efforts to galvanize the best talent available both in India and from across the globe, and offer them an intellectually stimulating environment combined with an enabling ecosystem to conduct pathbreaking research for biopharmaceuticals."

- here's the press release

Special Report: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw - The 25 most influential people in biopharma today

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Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw – The 25 most influential people in biopharma today

Posted under Biocon, Blog, Companies, Diagnostics, Funding, india, insulin, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Universities, Videos, Women in Biotech by John Carroll

Perfecting the hybrid R&D model

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Chairman and founder
Biocon

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a powerhouse in India. While many life sciences businesses in the subcontinent have struggled to develop a winning formula, she was out striking a rich development deal on biosimilar insulin products with Pfizer. And starting out with nothing, she's forged a drug development arm that could well prove that the country's acknowledged scientific skills can translate into a thriving development industry.

Oddly enough, Mazumdar-Shaw started off in the beer business, learning a considerable amount about enzyme activity that would later bring her fortune with an industrial enzymes manufacturing business. But her most recent breakthroughs have been built on a deep understanding of the ways in which India can play a big role in the multinational pharma game.

"I really believe this is an interesting hybrid model for drug innovation," Mazumdar-Shaw recently told FierceBiotech, taking the "low-cost base in India and marrying it with the discovery skills in the U.S. and seeing if you can reduce the cost and time for drug development. We do what we do best in India and they do what they do best in the U.S."

With a 20% annual growth rate, Mazumdar-Shaw has proven that the subcontinent can create a go-go life sciences outfit with broad international connections. Her vitality has inspired a whole generation of Indians, men and women, meaning that there is tremendous potential to be tapped. The success of the industry and Mazumdar-Shaw are closely entwined.

Biocon chief vows near-term pact on oral insulin

Posted under Biocon, Blog, Companies, Diagnostics, Funding, insulin, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Universities, Videos by John Carroll

The high-profile CEO of India's Biocon says that she's closing in on a big-name pharma partner for the company's oral insulin program.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told Reuters that "we are in advanced discussions with potential partners" and expects to have a deal by the end of the first quarter of 2012. Mazumdar-Shaw believes that the oral insulin program remains one of Biocon's most promising potential blockbusters, despite a late-stage failure for IN-105 in Type 2 diabetes patients earlier this year.

Biocon, India's biggest biotech, is developing biosimilars with Pfizer and has captured 10% of the subcontinent's insulin market.

- here's the story from Reuters