Syngene International, a subsidiary of Indian biotech player Biocon Ltd. and the global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb have opened a fully dedicated research and development (R&D) facility at Biocon Park, located in the Bommasandra Industrial Area, Bangalore.

This new R&D facility is outcome of the March 2007 agreement between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Biocon to develop integrated drug discovery and development capabilities at Syngene.

This 200,000 square-feet dedicated contract research facility is expected to help Bristol-Myers Squibb's work in discovery and early drug development activities. Currently, the companies have employed around 270 researchers at this R&D facility.

The facility will employ 360 researchers by the end of the current year and the number of employees would be increased to 450 in the long run, according to sources. Work at the facility will include drug discovery and development process from initial hit to lead optimisation to early pharmaceutical development to clinical nomination to phase I and II clinical studies. This facility signals Bristol-Myers Squibb's commitment to R&D in Asia.

"We are pleased to build upon our more than 10 years relationship with Biocon with the completion of this dedicated R&D facility and the establishment of this integrated R&D centre in Asia," said, Dr Elliott Sigal, executive vice president, chief scientific officer and president, R&D, Bristol-Myers Squibb.

"The opening of this facility is an integral part of our company's strategy to access top talent around the world and establish a research and development presence in Asia," he added.

On Biocon's part, its CMD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said, "Syngene has multi-disciplinary skills in synthetic chemistry, process chemistry and molecular biology. The collaboration will offer a value-added capability base for Bristol-Myers Squibb."

In addition to expanding its research and development capabilities in India through its relationship with Biocon, Bristol-Myers Squibb is also committed to supporting the development of scientific excellence in India.

Since 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb has established fellowships supporting doctoral and post-graduate students at four academic institutions in the areas of biology, chemistry, pharmaceutics, drug metabolism, chemical engineering, clinical pharmacology and translational medicine. The company is also exploring public-private educational partnerships with local universities.