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Company History


Main Objects of the Company

History and Major Events

Biocon was incorporated as Biocon India Private Limited on November 29, 1978 under the Companies Act. The word 'Private' was deleted from our name under the provisions of Section 43A(2) of the Companies Act with effect from July 1, 1995. Thereafter Biocon was converted to a private limited company under the provisions of Section 43(2A) of the Companies Act with effect from December 21, 2000. It was reconverted into a public limited company on June 18, 2001.

The name of Biocon was changed from Biocon India Limited to Biocon Limited and a fresh certificate of incorporation consequent on change of name was issued by the ROC on November 19, 2003.

Main Objects of the Company
Our main objects as contained in our Memorandum of Association are:

- To carry on the business of manufacturing, processing,
  distilling, compounding, formulating, acquiring, buying, selling,   importing, exporting and dealing in all enzyme products from   animal, microbial, plant sources, products from fish sources,   vegetable and herb extracts, agricultural products including
  cattle feed, and all chemicals heavy or fine, organic, inorganic,   biological or any other formulations, derivatives and compounds   thereof from mineral origin or from other chemicals or from by-
  products or waste products of other trades and industries and   other branded preparations and compounds, derivatives and
  formulations thereof and consumers products based thereon,
  pharmaceutical specialities, surgical specialities, cosmetics,
  germicides, detergents and acids.

- To establish and run an extraction plant for the extraction of
  oils, colouring matters, crude drugs and other extracts from
  seeds, barks, cakes, flowers, plants in all forms for the
  production of natural colourants, alkaloids, steroids, other drugs
  and medicines and other products.

- To cultivate, crush, utilise, buy sell and deal in seeds,   substances, and plants of every description.

The main objects clause and the objects incidental or ancillary to the main objects of the Memorandum of Association of Biocon enable us to undertake our existing activities and the activities for which the funds are being raised through this Issue.

History and Major Events
The chronology of events since Biocon was incorporated in 1978 is as follows:
Year Key Events, Milestones and Achievements
   
1978
 Nov 29, 1978 - Biocon’s Founding Day - the start of a biorevolution in India. Biocon commenced operations as a joint venture between our promoter Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Biocon Biochemicals Limited, an Ireland based multinational. Biocon began the manufacture and export of Papain, a plant enzyme, and Isinglass, a marine hydrocolloid, which are key products for the brewing industry
1979 Biocon was the first Indian company to manufacture and export enzymes to USA and Europe
1982 BCZ ( BioChemizyme India) was incorporated to focus on research and development in relation to enzymes
1984 Biocon began focussing on research and development, to develop novel enzymes for the Biocon group worldwide through solid-state fermentation process technology referred to as "koji technology".
1989 HLX (Helix Biotech Limited) was incorporated as a pharmaceutical biotechnology company, which later diversified into pharmaceutical bulk activities.
1989 Biocon along with Unit Trust of India/Technology Development and Investment Corporation of India (UTI/TDICI), Biocon Biochemicals Limited, Ireland and others invested in BCZ.
1989 Unilever plc. acquired Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. in Ireland and merged it with its subsidiary, Quest International
1989 Biocon was the first Indian biotech company to receive US funding for proprietary technologies
1990 Biocon scaled up its in-house research programme, based on a proprietary solid substrate fermentation technology, from pilot to plant level
1992 UTI/TDICI transferred their entire shareholding in BCZ to Biocon Limited, Ireland. BCZ commenced operations
1993 Biocon received ISO 9001 accreditation from RWTUV, Germany
1993 Syngene was incorporated as a CRO to conduct research for third party clients in the area of drug discovery and development. Syngene's skill set in the areas of molecular biology and synthetic chemistry are complementary to our expertise in the areas of fermentation and microbial genetics.
1995 Unilever acquired 50% of the shares in BCZ by acquiring the entire shareholding of Biocon Biochemicals Limited, Ireland and Biocon Limited, Ireland. Unilever also acquired shares in Biocon from Biocon Biochemicals Limited, Ireland and Biocon Limited, Ireland and others
1995 BQIL (Biocon Quest India Limited) was established with Biocon and Unilever acquiring around 50% stake each. BQIL commenced manufacturing operations from August 1996
1996 The commercial success of Biocon's proprietary fermentation plant lead to a 3-fold expansion
1996 Biocon leveraged its technology platform to enter biopharmaceuticals and statins
1997 Biocon spearheaded initiatives in human healthcare through a dedicated manufacturing facility
1998 HLX commenced manufacturing operations
1999 Glentec International acquired the entire shareholding of Unilever in BCZ, BQIL and Biocon.
2000 Biocon acquired the entire shareholding of BCZ, BQIL & HLX from Glentec International, Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and others in exchange for issue of shares by Biocon. Biocon became an independent entity Glentec International acquired a majority stake (approx 64%) in Syngene as part of a fresh issue of shares.
2000 ICICI Ventures and its affiliate funds were inducted as shareholders of Biocon by way of subscription to 15.35% of the share capital of Biocon.
2000 Biocon's proprietary bioreactor christened PlafractorTM based on solid matrix fermentation received a U.S. patent. Biocon commissioned its first fully automated submerged fermentation plant to produce specialty pharmaceuticals
2000 Clinigene was incorporated to conduct longitudinal clinical studies in select disease segments as a wholly owned subsidiary of Biocon.
2001 As part of a court based restructuring, BCZ, BQIL and HLX were amalgamated into Biocon, with effect from April 1, 1999.
Biocon's Lovastatin facility was approved by the US FDA
2001 Biocon's proprietary bioreactor, PlaFractor™ is granted a US 2001 and world-wide patent
2002 Biocon acquired 99.99% of Syngene from its other shareholders, including ICICI Venture and its affiliate funds, which divested their entire stake in Syngene in exchange for issue of shares by Biocon. Syngene was made a 99.99% subsidiary of Biocon Limited.
2002 Clinigene's clinical laboratory was the first in India to receive CAP accreditation
2003 BBPL(Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Private Limited) was incorporated to manufacture and market a select range of biotechnology based life saving drugs as a 51:49 joint venture with CIMAB (Cuban Centre of Molecular Immunology) and Biocon
2003 ICICI Ventures along with its affiliate funds divested its shareholder interests in Biocon in favour of other private equity funds, being AIG AOF, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG Asian Opportunity Fund L.P. and IVF and also to the Welfare Trust.
2004 Biocon went for an IPO to raise Rs 300 crores to fund its huge capital expansion plans.
2004 Biocon's IPO was oversubscribed 32 times.
2004 Biocon created a buzz in the stock market in March 2004 with its hugely successful IPO. Biocon closed Day One of listing on the bourses with a market value of $ 1.11 billion, to become only the second Indian company to cross the $ 1 billion mark on the day of listing.
2004 Biocon Limited, and North Carolina's Nobex Corporation announced a research collaboration to jointly develop an oral Insulin product for the treatment of Diabetes on a global scale.
2004 Syngene inaugurated its new research centre at Biocon's new facility Biocon Park.
2004 Biocon Limited, announced the launch of INSUGEN®, the new generation bio-insulin, manufactured in Asia's largest human insulin plant.
2004 Biocon Limited and Vaccinex, Inc. announced a broad strategic partnership to discover and co-develop at least four therapeutic antibody products.
2004 Biocon Foundation was established with the aim of identifying and implementing projects that will impact the social and economic scenario in the country. Biocon Foundation launched Arogya Raksha Yojana, a unique micro-health insurance scheme for rural India in association with Narayana Hrudayalaya.
2005 Biocon Limited, signed a commercial agreement for supply of insulin API in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
2006 Biocon inaugurated Biocon Biopharmaceuticals, India's largest multi-product Biologics facility at Biocon Park
2006 Biocon inaugurated Biocon Park, India's largest integrated biotechnology hub, comprising an integrated cluster of research laboratories and manufacturing facilities spread across 90 acres in KIADB (Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board) industrial estate.
2006 Biocon announced a licensing agreement with Bayer HealthCare (BHC) for the exclusive marketing and trademark rights for INSUGEN® for the Chinese market.
2006 Syngene and Innate Pharmaceuticals AB, Umea, Sweden concluded a cooperation agreement to jointly develop, manufacture and market virulence blockers to counteract bacterial diarrhoeal disease.
2006 Biocon launched India's first anti-cancer drug BIOMAb EGFR™.
2006 Clinigene PRIDE study reaffirmed Insugen safety and efficacy. Clinigene completed India's largest documented safety study on insulin vials
2007 Biocon and Abu Dhabi based pharmaceutical company Neopharma sign an MOU to establish a JV to manufacture and market a range of biopharmaceuticals for the GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council).
2007 Biocon grants exclusive license to Ferozsons Laboratories Limited for marketing BIOMAb EGFR™ in Pakistan.
2007 Biocon and Bentley Announce Approval and Expansion of Bentley's Nasulin Phase II Studies in India. Biocon's Clinigene to conduct clinical trials
2007 Biocon announces the launch of its Nephrology Division and a comprehensive portfolio of renal therapy products.
2007 Syngene enters into a research partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb and completes the ground breaking ceremony of new research facility at Biocon Park.
2007 Biocon signs Memorandum of Understanding with Deakin University, Australia. To establish Deakin Research Institute in Bangalore
2007 Biocon divests enzymes division for USD 115 million to Novozymes. Biocon business portfolio to focus on biopharmaceuticals
2007 Biocon and Abraxis BioScience, announce an agreement wherein Abraxis will license the right to develop a biosimilar version of G-CSF (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) in North America and the European Union.
2007 Biocon and Neopharma sign an MOU to establish Neobiocon, a joint venture company in Dubai's biotechnology and research park, Dubiotech.
2007 Biocon and Abraxis BioScience,Inc announce a licensing agreement for the commercialization of ABRAXANE® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) in India. Under the terms of the agreement, Biocon will also have the right to market ABRAXANE in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and certain other Persian Gulf countries.
2007 Biocon presents the results of Phase 1 studies on its oral insulin product, IN-105 at the European Association for Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting held at Amsterdam. Phase 1 studies were conducted on healthy volunteers who have been administered IN-105 in the form of a tablet. The human clinical data on IN-105 was presented at the session on Novel therapies. Based on these promising results, Biocon intends to now develop this molecule through further clinical trials.
2007 Biocon and Abraxis BioScience, Inc. announce the approval to market ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) in India for the treatment of breast cancer by the country's Drug Controller General. Commercial introduction of ABRAXANE in the Indian market is expected in 2008 following the completion of the appropriate importation certifications.
2007 Since its establishment, Biocon Foundation opened four Arogya Raksha Yojana primary healthcare clinics. Biocon Foundation established a cancer hospital along with Dr. Devi Shetty of Narayana Hrudayalaya
2008 Biocon acquires a 70% stake in German pharmaceutical company, AxiCorp GmbH for a consideration of €30 Million
2008 Biocon launches a Safety Device in the form of pre-filled syringes for two of its life saving products, GCSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) and EPO (Erythropoietin) in collaboration with Safety Syringes Inc. ERYPRO Safe™ and NUFIL Safe™ are the first two drugs that will marketed using this novel device with other injectable products to follow in the future
 
     
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