The Rs 728-crore Biocon is gearing up to launch a novel cancer drug HR-3 for head and neck cancer which is now awaiting approval from the Drugs Control General of India. The product which is a first-of-its-kind in the country underwent clinical trials and has shown impressive results in terms of efficacy. If all goes well for the company, plans are chalked out to introduce the product in the country within the next six to eight months.
For Biocon, the novel cancer drug HR-3, an anti EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) human monoclonal antibody will be the second of its major launches after Insugen, the world's first recombinant human (r-DNA) insulin which is developed using a unique Pichia Expression, a yeast expression system. HR-3 is joint technology development product with the Centre for Molecular Immunology, a Cuban-based monoclonal antibody and cell culture technology major. The dedicated production facility for monoclonal antibodies is located at the Biocon Park in Bommasandra close to its existing plants at Hebbagodi on the Bangalore-Hosur Road.
HR-3 and Insugen which are among the company's new proprietary products along with statins and immunosuppressants, are expected to provide major chunk of earnings from the domestic and international front. "We are now building domain knowledge in both Oncology and Diabetes which are the focal points of our discovery led research programs. This research combined with our manufacturing expertise reinforces our integrated bio-pharmaceutical model," Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited told Pharmabiz.
The R&D thrust is on novel molecules and as generics company Biocon is now being looked upon as a novel proprietary product major. The company has a potentially visible pipeline for drugs like antibodies, oral insulin and biologicals. Being in the drug design and development space, Biocon is human resource intensive and hence aggressive hiring is on the cards to double the scientific team from 200 to 400 which includes both in-house and contract research, stated Shrikumar Suryanarayan, president, research and development, Biocon Limited.