Biocon-Shanta Biotech has plans to commence the clinical trials of its human insulin by March 2003. According to Kiran Majumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon India, the clinical trials would begin within two months from now and the company has set target of October 2003 for the launch of the product. "Hopefully we may be able to launch the product much before the competitor," she said.

Shaw said that the insulin unit of the company would be the largest manufacturing facility in the country, with an annual capacity of 18 million doses of 40 ml strength and three million doses of the 100 ml strength in the first year.

Biocon-Shanta Biotech is a 50:50 joint venture between Bangalore based Biocon India and Hyderbad-based Shanta Biotech. The joint venture has a combined investment of Rs.25 crore. The bulk of insulin production of the venture will be carried out at Biocon's facility while the packaging would be done at the facility of Shanta Biotech.