A company that started with modest capital, just three employees, and a small shed in Koramangala, suburban Bangalore, quickly became the first Indian company to manufacture and export healthcare solutions to the US and Europe. Today, we will talk about Biocon company, a global biopharmaceutical that has made significant advancements in the healthcare sector. It specialises in developing a wide range of products, with a focus on diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc. The company’s mission is to provide affordable quality medicines and improve patients’ health, which has led to its presence in over 120 countries.
Let us take a look at some of the major achievements of Biocon Company, including Biocon dividend history, its products list and much more!
About Biocon Company
Biocon: Company Overview in Figures
| Feature | Value |
| Market Cap | ₹ 36,924 Cr. |
| Stock P/E | 35.9 |
| Owner | Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw |
| Establishment | 1978 |
| Presence | 120+ countries |
| Workforce | 16,500+ employees |
| Consolidated Revenue | ₹ 3,966 Crore |
| Patents Granted | 1,280+ |
| Registered Trademarks | 1,025+ |
Source- Screener.in, biocon.com, data, as of May 21st, 2024.
The Inspiring History of Biocon Company
Biocon’s dedication to excellence has earned them recognition at home and abroad.
From receiving ISO certifications to achieving U.S. FDA approvals, they have set the standard for quality and reliability in the industry.
Read about the top 10 healthcare companies in India!
Let us see the company’s ever-growing yearly achievements.
Initially manufacturing Papain and Isinglass for the brewing industry, Biocon quickly grew, expanding its operations and research capabilities.
1978
In 1978, Biocon India Pvt. Ltd. was founded as a partnership between Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. of Ireland.
Their journey began with just three employees and a small shed in Koramangala, suburban Bangalore.
Biocon company focused on manufacturing and exporting papain, a plant enzyme, and isinglass, a marine hydrocolloid, which is essential for the brewing industry.
In 1979, Biocon made its mark on the global stage by exporting Papain, a potent plant enzyme extracted from Papaya, to the U.S. and Europe.
All crafted in India with quality in mind.
Moving into 1980, Biocon invested in its future by acquiring a 20-acre plot on Hosur Road, Bangalore, for INR 600,000. On March 8th, 1980, they laid the foundation stone for their new corporate office, paving the way for expanded operations and a brighter tomorrow.
By 1981, Biocon was ready to take its next big leap.
Transitioning away from rented spaces, the company moved to its own integrated campus at 20th KM, Hosur Road, Electronics City, Bangalore.
This marked a significant step towards self-sufficiency and growth.
Biocon’s vision became a reality as the years rolled on to 1983.
They inaugurated their new campus at 20th KM, Hosur Road, Electronics City, Bangalore, with a great ceremony graced by Irish Ambassador H.E. Bernard McHugh.
In 1984, Biocon established its R&D division, which initially focused on developing novel enzymes using solid-state fermentation technology.
In 1989, Biocon Biochemicals Ltd, Ireland, including its subsidiaries, was acquired by Unilever Plc. and merged with its wholly-owned subsidiary Quest International, The Netherlands. Biocon India began producing enzymes for Unilever’s food businesses.
In 1990, Biocon boosted its research program using a special fermentation method through a new company called Biochemizyme Ltd. They wanted to make their experiments bigger, going from small tests to full-scale production.
In 1993, Biocon’s labs got a special certification from Germany, ISO 9001. This made them the first science company in India to get this certification.
The next year, in 1994, a new group called Syngene started up.
They were all about doing custom research for other companies, helping them with their science work. They focused on chemistry and biology, making sure they did good work for less money.
Then in 1995, a huge company, Unilever, got involved. They bought part of Biochemizyme, teaming up with Biocon to make a new company called Biocon Quest India Ltd (BQIL).
This move helped Biochemizyme grow its fermentation business even more!
By 1998, things changed again. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and John Shaw bought out Unilever’s part of Biocon, making Biocon making it a privately owned company.
They wanted to steer their company in their own direction.
Finally, in 1999, Biocon had a special guest: Professor James D. Watson.
He was famous for helping co-discover the structure of DNA.
His visit was a big deal and showed how respected Biocon had become in the science world.
In the early 2000s, Biocon kept advancing in the science world.
They started Clinigene, India’s first clinical research organisation, to conduct research on diseases and treatments.
Plus, they launched PlaFractor, a special machine for fermentation, which was a hit.
Around the same time, Biocon built its first high-tech fermentation plant and got a thumbs-up from the U.S. FDA for its innovative Lovastatin medicine-making process.
They even got patents for their PlaFractor technology, showing how unique it was.
In 2002, Biocon joined hands with a Cuban company to make biological medicines. They made a big splash in 2004 by being the first to sell a special insulin called rh-insulin worldwide.
Their success caught investors’ eyes, leading to a successful stock market debut in 2004.
By 2006, they opened Biocon Park, a huge biotechnology hub in India, with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurating it.
They also introduced Nimotuzumab, a new treatment for head and neck cancer.
However, to focus more on this area, they sold their enzyme business to Novozymes in 2007.
In 2008, Biocon expanded its reach by buying a stake in a German company, AxiCorp, to sell more medicines in Europe. They joined hands with Mylan from the U.S. in 2009 to develop more advanced medicines, like biosimilars for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
They didn’t forget about diabetes either, launching a new insulin named Basalog® in 2009.
Meanwhile, Syngene, Biocon’s sister company, opened a special facility for research with Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2009.
In 2010, Biocon teamed up with Pfizer, a big pharmaceutical company.
In 2011, Biocon starts work on the largest integrated insulin facility in Asia.
Biocon company launches INSUPen®, a user-friendly insulin delivery device, enhancing patient convenience.
By 2013, Biocon made a big breakthrough with Itolizumab, a new treatment for psoriasis.
In 2014, Biocon company introduced CANMAb™, a biosimilar Trastuzumab, making breast cancer treatment more affordable.
The following year, 2015, Syngene made waves by entering the Indian stock market. Meanwhile, Biocon kept improving insulin delivery with a fancy new facility in Bangalore.
In 2016, Biocon’s generic Rosuvastatin Calcium tablets got approval in Europe.
They also got the green light for their biosimilar Insulin Glargine in Japan.
By 2017, Biocon made history by being the first Indian company to get U.S. FDA approval for a biosimilar. They also opened their first insulin facility overseas in Malaysia, making their presence felt around the world.
In 2018, they reached another milestone by launching Pegfilgrastim, another biosimilar, in the U.S.
In 2019, Biocon decided to focus even more on their biosimilars business by making Biocon Biologics its own separate company.
By 2020, Biocon Biologics got significant capital injections from Goldman Sachs and Tata Capital.
In the U.S., they made history by launching Semglee™, the first interchangeable biosimilar.
In 2021, Biocon Biologics teamed up with Adagio Therapeutics to work on treatments for COVID-19.
By 2022, Biocon Biologics got even more significant by buying Viatris’ biosimilars business, becoming a big player in the global market.
In 2023, they launched HULIO®, their fourth biosimilar in the U.S., expanding their range of treatments.
Biocon Company Details| Important Milestones Achieved
| Year | Achievement |
| 1978 | Incorporation of Biocon India Pvt. Ltd. |
| 1979 | First export of Papain enzyme |
| 1983 | Inauguration of Bangalore campus |
| 1984 | Establishment of the R&D division |
| 1989 | Acquisition by Unilever |
| 1990 | Scaling up fermentation technology |
| 1993 | ISO 9001 Certification |
| 1994 | Establishment of Syngene International Pvt. Ltd. |
| 1995 | Establishment of Biocon Quest India Ltd. |
| 1998 | Biocon becomes an independent entity |
| 1999 | Visit by Nobel Laureate Prof. James D. Watson |
| 2000 | Establishment of Clinigene |
| 2001 | FDA approval for Lovastatin API production |
| 2002 | Establishment of Biocon Biopharmaceuticals |
| 2004 | The commercialisation of Pichia-based rh-Insulin |
| 2006 | Inauguration of Biocon Park |
| 2006 | Launch of Nimotuzumab |
| 2006 | Inauguration of a multi-product Biologics facility |
| 2007 | Divestment of enzyme business |
| 2008 | Acquisition of stake in AxiCorp GmbH |
| 2009 | Strategic partnership with Mylan |
| 2010 | Initiation of Asia’s largest integrated insulin facility |
| 2011 | Launch of INSUPen® |
| 2012 | Inauguration of Biocon Research Centre |
| 2013 | Commercialisation of Itolizumab |
| 2015 | IPO of Syngene |
| 2015 | Inauguration of insulin devices facility |
| 2016 | First biosimilar approval in Japan |
| 2017 | FDA approval for biosimilar Trastuzumab |
| 2017 | Commencement of operations in Malaysia |
| 2018 | The commercialisation of biosimilar Pegfilgrastim in the U.S. |
| 2019 | Establishment of Biocon Biologics |
| 2020 | Approval of Itolizumab for COVID-19 |
| 2020 | Equity investment by Tata Capital |
| 2020 | Launch of Semglee™ in the U.S. |
| 2021 | Capital injection from Goldman Sachs |
| 2022 | Acquisition of Viatris’ Biosimilars Business |
| 2023 | Launch of HULIO® |
| 2023 | Integration in ~120 countries |
Biocon Company Overview
Biocon addresses global medical needs by offering a range of high-quality biotherapeutics. They use innovative science to introduce affordable generics and biosimilars, making advanced therapies accessible to millions. Biocon ensures broader access to generic drugs by supplying high-quality APIs to drug makers worldwide. They develop transformative medicines for diabetes, oncology, and immunology.
- Biocon Market Cap: ₹36,924 Cr.
- Biocon Stock P/E: 35.9
- Biocon Biotechnology Advancement: 40+ years
- Biocon Global Presence: 120+ countries
- Biocon Workforce: 16,500+ employees
- Biocon Owner: Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
- Biocon Establishment Year: 1978
- Biocon Turnover Q4FY24 : ₹3,929 Crore
- Biocon Q4FY24 Net R&D Investment: ₹342 Crore
- Biocon Q4FY24 Core EBITDA: ₹1,260 Crore
- Biocon Q4FY24 Net Profit (before exceptional items): ₹144 Crore
- Biocon Patents Granted: 1,280+
- Biocon Registered Trademarks: 1,025+
Biocon Products List
Biocon offers a diverse range of products across four therapeutic areas.
- Generics: Products include Atorvastatin, Aminocaproic Acid, Dapagliflozin, Dasatinib, etc.
- Biosimilars: Products like Insulin Glargine, Trastuzumab, Pegfilgrastim, etc.
- Branded Formulations: INSUGEN (rh-insulin), BASALOG (Glargine), BIOMAb EGFR (Nimotuzumab), CANMAb (Trastuzumab), etc.
- Novel Biologics: Nimotuzumab (BIOMAb-EGFR®) for Head & Neck Cancer, Itolizumab (ALZUMAb™) for Psoriasis, etc.
Biocon Dividend History
Biocon Ltd. has announced dividends on multiple occasions:
| Announcement Date | Ex-Date | Dividend (Rs) |
| 24-05-2023 | 07-07-2023 | 1.50 |
| 28-04-2022 | 30-06-2022 | 0.50 |
| 25-04-2019 | 18-07-2019 | 0.50 |
| 26-04-2018 | 19-07-2018 | 1.00 |
| 02-05-2017 | 20-07-2017 | 1.00 |
| 08-03-2016 | 17-03-2016 | 5.00 |
| 27-03-2015 | 09-04-2015 | 5.00 |
Biocon Split History
Biocon Ltd. has had stock splits on three different dates:
- September 11, 2008: 2/1Stock Split
- June 15, 2017: 3/1 Stock Split
- June 12, 2019: 2/1 Stock Split
Serving the Society| Biocon Company Initiatives
The Biocon Foundation empowers underserved communities, focusing on healthcare, education, environment, and rural development. It provides access to quality medical services and enhances learning opportunities.
The Foundation protects the environment and uplifts rural areas.
Sustainability is a priority that has been integrated into Biocon’s business strategy.
Also, the Biocon Academy offers certificate programs, equipping individuals with skills for the biotech industry.
FAQs| Biocon Company
Biocon manufactures a range of drugs, including biosimilars like insulin glargine, Trastuzumab, and Bevacizumab, generics such as Atorvastatin, and immunosuppressants.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder and executive chairperson of Biocon Limited.
Yes, Biocon is a multinational biopharmaceutical company with a presence in approximately 120 countries.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw leads Biocon as its Executive Chairperson, bringing over four decades of biotechnology expertise. Driven by passion, she began her journey in 1978.
Major milestones include the first export of enzymes in 1979, the IPO in 2004, and the launch of biosimilar Trastuzumab in 2014.
Biocon’s mission is to provide affordable, high-quality medicines and improve patient outcomes globally.
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