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Biocon to launch human insulin in India soon
Monday, 01 March 2004, 20:30 IST
BANGALORE: Biocon Ltd., India's largest integrated biotechnology company, is expected to soon roll out its human insulin in the Indian market under the brand name of Insugen.
In the run-up to its launch this summer, the Bangalore-based company is setting up a dedicated production facility at an estimated cost of 
305 million for commercial production.
"Insugen will be our first pharmaceutical product sold under branded formulation," Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director of the Bangalore-based Bicon, told IANS in an interview.
"It is currently undergoing clinical trials through our wholly-owned subsidiary Clinigene," she added.
Biocon's human insulin will compete with rival products from the stables of Wockhardt Ltd. and multinationals such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Aventis in the 2-billion worth of market.
"Unlike the conventional animal insulin, Insugen is produced from human gene by cloning it with yeast using a plug-and-play technique," said Shaw.
"Our product will be more effective for type-1 or type-II diabetics as its administration will be less painful."
After reaching a critical volume in the domestic market, the company plans to export Insugen in competitive markets, including the US and Europe from next year.
It has entered into a marketing tie-up with Briston-Myers Squibb for exporting the product in bulk form in overseas markets.
"We will enter the export market after securing regulatory approvals from Indian and overseas bodies such as the Drug Controller General of India and the US Federal Drug Authority," said Shaw.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India accounts for the world's largest diabetic population of about 30 million people affected by the disorder. The market for human insulin is projected to grow to 10 billion in a decade.
A survey by the National Urban Diabetes Study has revealed the prevalence of diabetes and its impact on the Indian population has been on the rise due to rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles.
WHO estimates that by 2025 the number of diabetics worldwide will double from the present 151 million, with India and China accounting for half of the total patients.
Biocon will finance the joint venture with an initial investment of 850 million towards capital expenditure.
"Plans are also under way to manufacture and market a new monoclonal anti-body in South Asia for treatment of head and neck cancers. The drug is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials in Canada," Shaw said.
Keeping in view its growth strategy to expand and integrate its operations across biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, custom and clinical research and discovery of new drug molecules, Biocon is building additional capacity near its Bangalore facility.
"We are in the process of setting up a new fermentation and chemical synthesis facility in the industrial township on the outskirts of the city at an estimated cost of 4.13 billion," Shaw said.
"The facility will enable us to increase the production of statins, a group of popular cholesterol-lowering agents used to treat and prevent coronary disease."
Shaw said biotechnology had emerged as the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the industry in the biopharmaceutical space. Fermentation technologies are extensively used to produce top-selling drugs worldwide.
"The IMS Health Incorporated data shows that the global pharmaceutical industry has been growing at a healthy rate of 10 percent annually, with sales crossing $400 billion in 2002 against $364 billion in 2001," she said.
"The US continues to dominate the drug market, accounting for half of the global sales.
"Aging population and demand for innovative therapies in the West will not only sustain the pharmaceutical growth, but also create new business opportunities to Indian bio-tech firms such as Biocon."
Source: IANS
305 million for commercial production.
"Insugen will be our first pharmaceutical product sold under branded formulation," Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director of the Bangalore-based Bicon, told IANS in an interview.
"It is currently undergoing clinical trials through our wholly-owned subsidiary Clinigene," she added.
Biocon's human insulin will compete with rival products from the stables of Wockhardt Ltd. and multinationals such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Aventis in the 2-billion worth of market.
"Unlike the conventional animal insulin, Insugen is produced from human gene by cloning it with yeast using a plug-and-play technique," said Shaw.
"Our product will be more effective for type-1 or type-II diabetics as its administration will be less painful."
After reaching a critical volume in the domestic market, the company plans to export Insugen in competitive markets, including the US and Europe from next year.
It has entered into a marketing tie-up with Briston-Myers Squibb for exporting the product in bulk form in overseas markets.
"We will enter the export market after securing regulatory approvals from Indian and overseas bodies such as the Drug Controller General of India and the US Federal Drug Authority," said Shaw.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India accounts for the world's largest diabetic population of about 30 million people affected by the disorder. The market for human insulin is projected to grow to 10 billion in a decade.
A survey by the National Urban Diabetes Study has revealed the prevalence of diabetes and its impact on the Indian population has been on the rise due to rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles.
WHO estimates that by 2025 the number of diabetics worldwide will double from the present 151 million, with India and China accounting for half of the total patients.
Biocon will finance the joint venture with an initial investment of 850 million towards capital expenditure.
"Plans are also under way to manufacture and market a new monoclonal anti-body in South Asia for treatment of head and neck cancers. The drug is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials in Canada," Shaw said.
Keeping in view its growth strategy to expand and integrate its operations across biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, custom and clinical research and discovery of new drug molecules, Biocon is building additional capacity near its Bangalore facility.
"We are in the process of setting up a new fermentation and chemical synthesis facility in the industrial township on the outskirts of the city at an estimated cost of 4.13 billion," Shaw said.
"The facility will enable us to increase the production of statins, a group of popular cholesterol-lowering agents used to treat and prevent coronary disease."
Shaw said biotechnology had emerged as the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the industry in the biopharmaceutical space. Fermentation technologies are extensively used to produce top-selling drugs worldwide.
"The IMS Health Incorporated data shows that the global pharmaceutical industry has been growing at a healthy rate of 10 percent annually, with sales crossing $400 billion in 2002 against $364 billion in 2001," she said.
"The US continues to dominate the drug market, accounting for half of the global sales.
"Aging population and demand for innovative therapies in the West will not only sustain the pharmaceutical growth, but also create new business opportunities to Indian bio-tech firms such as Biocon."
Source: IANS