Karnataka biotech industry has registered a turnover of Rs 1,991 crore with a growth rate of 35 per cent in 2006-07. The state generated revenues to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore from exports. Last year, the sector registered earnings to the tune of Rs. 16,000 crore.

Indian biotech sector has clocked revenues of $2billion and the Ernst & Young ranked the country third after Japan and Korea in the Asia Pacific region.

The State generated revenues of Rs 1110 crore from Bio Pharma which is 56 per cent share of the total biotech sector. Agri biotech generated Rs 96 crore (5 per cent), bio industrial services Rs 215 ( 10.5 per cent), bioinformatics Rs 70 crore (3.5 per cent) and bio services Rs 500 crore (25 per cent).

There was a fresh investment of Rs 108 crore in Karnataka from companies like Jubilant Life Sciences, Advinus, GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Avesthagen, Agilent Technologies, Pall Corporation and SARA Securities.

India has 340 units of which 183 are in Karnataka and 137 in Bangalore. The state accounts for 55 per cent of the Indian biotechnology activities. Twelve new biotech companies registered in India, out of which nine were in Bangalore which included Biozeen, Boston Biologicals, Navya Biologicals, Stempeutics, Silicocyte, Advenius, Polyclone Bioservices and Cell Works in the bio-pharma segment and DGK Foods in the bio agri segment.

The state has a total scientific strength of 16,000 employed in biotech companies and research institutes.

The achievements in the State are a pact with Deakin University, Australia for research manpower training. Bangalore Helix Biotech Park phase I opening in June end and initiatives for the creation of the country's first Biotech Finishing School.

Between 2006 and 2007, the notable mergers and acquisitions which took off were Reliance Life Sciences which acquired a 74 per cent stake in GenMedix, Nicholas Piramal bought over UK's Avecia Biopharma, Biocon acquired IP assets of US based Nobex Corporation. Merrieux Alliance picks up 60 per cent stake in Shanta Biotechnics for global vaccine production.

One major partnership deal entered into is that of Advenius with Merck involving $150 million. In another deal, Biocon entered into a co-development alliance for intranasal insulin with Bentley Pharma.

Avesthagen, another leading biotech company received Euro 20 million from a leading European Venture capitalist. Under innovative initiatives, Biocon launched BIOMAb EGFR which was India's first proprietary drug for head and neck cancers. The company also announced commencement of phase II trials for oral insulin and anti CD6 MAb for rheumatoid arthritis.