Biocon among 20 Indian companies in Forbes 'Best Under A Billion' list

Bangalore Sep 24, 2009: Biocon Ltd, India's leading biotechnology major, has been included in the prestigious `Best Under A Billion' listing by Forbes. This year, only 20 Indian companies have been featured in the list, which is dominated by companies from Greater China. “All have either increased sales and profits over the past 12 months or are forecast to do so in coming quarters. Apparel, media, technology and health care led the way.” said Forbes. This year‟s list is dominated by companies that have withstood challenges that threatened their survival and those that have demonstrated exemplary entrepreneurship.

For the fifth annual “Best under a Billion” list, the top 200 companies were picked from over 12,000 publicly-listed firms with sales of less than $1 billion in the Asia-Pacific region. The list was mainly dominated by as many as 78 small and mid-sized firms from China and Hong Kong due to the relative economic prosperity of these regions. Japan was the second most represented country in the coveted list with 24 companies, while its neighbour South Korea had 23 firms. India was ranked at the fourth place with 20 entries, followed by Australia with 18.

As many as 64 of the entries on this year's list are returnees — “a testament to fearless management” Forbes said, while 136 are new entries -who have “seized opportunities arising from economic uncertainty”.

About Biocon Limited
Established in 1978, Biocon Limited is one of India's premier biotechnology companies. Together with its group companies. Biocon forms a fully integrated biotechnology enterprise, specializing in biopharmaceuticals, custom research and clinical research which deliver products and solutions to partners and customers across the globe. Biocon launched the world's first recombinant human insulin, INSUGEN in November 2004 using Pichia expression and India's first indigenously produced monoclonal antibody BIOMAb-EGFRTM.

A leading US trade publication, Med Ad News, in its 2007/08 listings has ranked Biocon 20th amongst the leading biotechnology companies in the world and the 7th largest Biotech employer in the world. Biocon recently received the 2009 BioSingapore Asia Pacific Biotechnology Award for Best Listed Company.

Focusing on unmet medical needs in cancer, diabetes and inflammatory diseases, Biocon offers novel therapies on a platform of affordable innovation. Biocon's strategic licensing partnerships provide market penetration and global access to deliver breakthrough therapeutics to millions of patients the world over.

Visit us at www.biocon.com
For further information contact:
Paula Sengupta
Biocon Limited
Tel: +91 80 2808 2808
Fax: +91 80 2852 3423
Email: paula.sengupta@biocon.com

Sonia Sharma
Brodeur India
Tel: +91 80 4042 9047
Fax:+91 80 4042 9100
Email: ssharma@brodeurindia.com