Biocon announces corporate highlights for financial year 2007

Biocon Ltd has announced the following Corporate Highlights for Fiscal Year 2007:

- Biocon's subsidiary, Syngene, enters into research partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb

The new Bristol-Myers Squibb and Syngene research facility is underway. Spread over approximately 150,000 sq feet, the facility is planned to ultimately house more than 400 scientists to help advance Bristol-Myers Squibb's discovery and early drug development in India. This is expected to significantly increase the scope of Bristol Myers Squibb's existing relationship with Syngene to further develop integrated capabilities in medicinal chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and pharmaceutical development. Through this symbiotic global partnership, Biocon's Syngene will provide research and development services for discovery and early drug development.

- Biocon launches a comprehensive portfolio of renal therapy products

The Company announced the launch of its new Nephrology Division and a comprehensive portfolio of renal therapy products. The Company's Nephrology division is committed to finding solutions to kidney disorders using the highest standards of biotherapeutics and will simultaneously strive towards reducing the risks of the disease in the future, through progressive research and innovative therapies.

- Biocon Park facilities successfully pass US-FDA inspection

The Company's multiproduct manufacturing facilities at the Biocon Park SEZ successfully passed inspection by the US-FDA. This implies that these facilities meet the stringent quality and regulatory standards and would enable the Company to exploit these new capacities to service the US market for active pharmaceutical ingredients.

- Biocon and Bentley announce approval and expansion of Bentley's Nasulin Phase II studies in India

The Company's licensing partner, Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a specialty pharmaceutical Company, received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to proceed with a Phase II clinical evaluation of Nasulin in Type II diabetic patients. Nasulin is Bentley's intranasal insulin product utilizing its proprietary delivery technology CPE-215. As per the licensing agreement, the Company is responsible for developing and marketing Nasulin in India and select territories. The Company provides a source of insulin powder and Cardinal Health has manufactured the clinical supplies for this Phase II study under contract with Bentley.

- MOU with NMC Group for GCC JV:

The Company and Abu Dhabi's NMC Group signed an MOU to establish a JV to manufacture and market a range of Bio-pharmaceuticals for the GCC region (Gulf Cooperation Council). This landmark agreement between the two Companies heralds the region's first foray to develop and market life-saving biopharmaceutical products and will expand Neopharma's (NMC Group) existing portfolio with a range of the Company's therapeutic products. These products will be in the cardiovascular, diabetes and oncology segments, which represent the fastest growing class of drugs in the $ 5 billion GCC pharmaceutical market. This JV is a key milestone for the Company's marketing foray in the Gulf.

- Biocon launches BIOMAb-EGFR^TM into Indian market

The Company launched BIOMAb-EGFR^TM, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody-based drug for treating solid tumors of epithelial origin, such as head and neck cancers. This novel drug is engineered to specifically target and block the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) responsible for the proliferation of cancer cells. The drug is the first of its kind to be clinically developed in India and is the first anti-EGER humanized monoclonal antibody for cancer to be made available commercially anywhere in the world. The product has shown consistent positive outcome in clinical trials initiated both in India and globally and is being studied in global clinical trials for Colorectal, Lung Cancer, Glioma and Pancreatic cancers. BIOMAb-EGFR^TM is produced at the Company's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility-Biocon Park. The Company has also granted an exclusive license to Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd for marketing BIOMAb-EGFR^TM in Pakistan. Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd is ranked as the #1 national oncology Company.

Source : Equity Bulls

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