Biocon India Group is gearing up for the manufacture of novel immunosuppresants such as mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus and rapamycin. The production of these is expected to enhance the stature of the company in the international market.

All the products are being manufactured using the state-of-the-art fermenter technology- 'Plafractor' which has received international patents in over 100 countries. "We have our own processes for the production of immunosuppresants and are focussing on this for 2002-2003," Rakesh Bamzai, vice president, marketing, Biocon India Group told Pharmabiz.com.

The company has already established a position for itself in the statins market, where both quality and competitive pricing has given it an edge. "We plan to launch new statins once the regulatory approvals are through," said Bamzai.

Currently, the total value of the world statin market in formulations alone is pegged at $25 billion and generics constitute 10-20 per cent share. "The market is expected to grow further as the statins are a 'therapy of choice' for hyper-cholesterolemia.

The strategy for 2003 will be to consolidate on newer areas like oncology, diabetes, immunosuppresants, critical care and life saving molecules. In addition, the company is also going to introduce for the first time in India an indigenously produced recombinant human insulin in early 2004. "The novel insulin will be able to bridge the gap between the bovine, synthetic and other recombinant insulin available in the market. Quality will be an edge on which this product will be positioned," informed Bamzai. The regulatory clearances are on for its approval in India, he added.

In the area of recombinants, there is a huge investment being made for the manufacture of EPO, GCSF and streptokinase.

"For the first time in the country, we are going ahead to produce monoclonal
antibody (MAB) drugs to treat tumours located in the head and neck region. The launch for these products is scheduled for early 2004 and Biocon will tie-up with an internationally renowned biotech company for this," said Bamzai. Also Biocon plans to conduct extensive clinical trials for the MABs.

This year the company hopes to achieve Rs. 300 crore turnover and the CAG (compounded annual growth) registered is 35 percent. Biocon has recently set up a US office at New Jersey. The earnings from global markets constitute 50 percent of the turnover. In 2001, the company exported to 15 countries, and the number has doubled to 30 in 2002.