India's Top 10 Biotech Companies

chillibreeze writer — Saudha Kasim

According to the 2009 BioSpectrum magazine-Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) survey of the Indian biotech industry, the industry grew by 18 percent in 2008-09. The survey results showed that biopharma segment remained the largest revenue generator in the industry while bioservices, bioagri, bioindustrial and bioinformatics posted strong growth rates.

The Indian biotech industry may have felt the impact of the recession in terms of a credit crunch, but the government’s support through the Public Funded R&D bill is expected to encourage further academic research and more innovation in this booming industry.

The following are India’s top 10 biotech companies according to the BioSpectrum-ABLE survey:

Serum Institute of India
In 2008-09, the Serum Institute of India posted revenues of more than Rs. 1,000 crore, becoming the first biotech company in the country to do this. The products of the Serum Institute, which manufactures immunobiologicals including vaccines, are available in around 140 countries. The company, run by the Poonawalla group, is the world’s largest producer of measles and DTP group of vaccines.

Biocon
Biocon, based in Bangalore, is India’s second largest biotech company. In 2008-09 the company posted revenues of around Rs. 912 crore. Biocon was established in 1978 and is headed by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. Its main focus is on biopharmaceuticals, custom and clinical research. Biocon was the first Indian company to export microbial enzymes to the USA and Europe and was ranked among the top 20 global biotech companies in 2008 by Med Ad News.

Panacea Biotec
The third largest biotech company in India, Panacea Biotech has a presence in countries in the CIS, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The company’s product portfolio includes prescription products for pain, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, renal disease, osteoporosis, anti-tubercular, gastro-intestinal care and vaccines. Panacea Biotech has collaborated and embarked on joint ventures with leading biotechnology research organizations and companies in India and around the globe. The company has production facilities in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh; Larlu, Punjab; and New Delhi.

Rasi Seeds
In 2008-09, the Attur, Salem based Rasi Seeds was the fourth largest biotech company in India with revenues of around Rs. 375 crore. The company was started by M. Ramasami in 1973 and was initially focused on researching and developing cotton seeds before expanding into other varieties. Rasi Seeds is known for developing the new Bt Cotton variety and also markets vegetable seeds under the HyVeg brand.

Nuziveedu Seeds
Nuziveedu Seeds is part of the Rs. 2000 crore NSL Group and is based in Hyderabad. In 2008-09 it was the fifth largest biotech company in India with revenues of more than Rs. 300 crore. Nuziveedu Seeds was established in 1973 with the objective of researching and developing quality cotton seeds. It has expanded its product range to include other crops like corn, rice, sunflowers, sorghum, millet and vegetables.

Novo Nordisk India
Novo Nordisk India manufactures products for the treatment of diabetes and also deals with therapy areas in the human growth hormone and hemostasis management. The Indian operation of Novo Nordisk started in Mumbai in 1990 and it is now headquartered in Bangalore. In 2008-09, it generated revenues of around Rs. 330 crore to become the sixth largest biotech company in India.

SIRO Clinpharm
SIRO Clinpharm is India’s largest clinical research organization. The company offers various services including: feasibility and patient access planning, project management and planning, clinical monitoring, drug safety and pharmacovigilance, clinical audit services and quality assurance and data management, among others. The company has its corporate headquarters in Mumbai and offices in the US and Germany.

Novozymes South Asia
Novozymes, the largest supplier of enzymes in the world, has its South Asian headquarters in Bangalore. In 2008-09, it was the seventh largest biotech company in India with revenues of Rs. 250 crore. The company manufactures around 75 types of enzymes and more than 500 products most of which are supplied to chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Shantha Biotech
Shantha Biotechnics Ltd., a Hyderabad based manufacturer of vaccines, generated revenues of around Rs. 247 crore in 2008-09. Shantha Biotech was the first Indian company to develop and manufacture a recombinant human healthcare product. The company’s research and development efforts focus on generic biologicals, new therapeutic antibodies, proteins and vaccines. Shantha Biotech’s products are available in countries in the Asia-Pacific region, CIS, Africa and Latin America.

Jubilant
Jubilant Organosys, part of the Jubilant Group, is the largest Custom Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) and leading Drug Discovery and Development Solution company in India. Besides pharmaceutical and life sciences products and services, the company also manufactures products for agriculture and performance polymers. In 2008-09 it was the tenth largest biotech company India with revenues of around Rs. 242 crore.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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India's Top 10 Biotech Companies

chillibreeze writer — Saudha Kasim

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