Top Ten Biotech Companies in India

chillibreeze writer — Amit Ray

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Long overshadowed by the dazzling IT industry, India’s biotech sector is finally poised to storm the business world. Powered by growing competence in producing low cost innovative as well as generic drugs and vaccines, the Indian biotech firms are fast becoming global majors, promising to create substantial opportunities for the for the Indian economy. The government has also come out with enabling policies, allowing these firms to exploit India’s vast pool of technical and scientific manpower to make a global impact.

The evolution is already showing in the numbers. Revenues from the biotech sector touched US$ 2 billion during 2006-07, up from US$ 800 million generated during 2003-04. Backed by an average growth in excess of 35% per year, the industry seems confident to meet the revenue target of US$ 5 billion by 2010. The Indian Government’s Department of biotechnology also expects annual sales of the biotech sector to cross US$ 25 billion by 2015.

Presently, there are about 350 biotech companies in India, 53% of which are in the state of Karnataka. Bangalore alone has about 135 firms, making the city a biotech hub of the country. The biotechnology space in India basically comprises of the bio-pharma, bio-agri, and bio-industrial firms. The growth and revenue performance of the top ten biotech companies of India (as ranked by the BioSpectrum magazine) during 2005 and 2006 is given below:

Rank	Company	Revenue (Rs crore) 2006	Revenue (Rs crore) 2005	Growth (%)
1.	Serum Institute of India	950.95	703.00	35.27
2.	Biocon	728.00	603.00	20.73
3.	Panacea Biotech	600.00	437.82	37.04
4.	Monsanto Biotech	391.25	162.5	140.62
5.	Rasi Seeds	309.49	86.87	256.27
6.	Venkateshwara Hatcheries	190.5	188	1.95
7.	Novo Nordisk	222.00	175.00	26.86
8.	Tulip	165.00	132.00	25
9.	Indian Immunologicals	157.90	100.00	57.90
10.	TransAsia Biomedics	151.37	127.00	19.19

Source: BioSpectrum Magazine, www.biospectrum.ciol.com

The company ranking for the years 2005 and 2006 reveals strong competition among the major players in the industry. For example, companies like Monsanto and Rasi Seeds were not among the top ten in the year 2005, but made their way in the list of toppers in 2006, displacing reputed firms like Aventis Pharma and Santha Biotech. This clearly demonstrates growing skills and competence across the biotech spectrum, and should be considered a good sign for the future of the industry. Another striking feature is that although bio-pharma companies still dominate the top league, in terms of revenue and profitability, it is the bio-agri companies that are growing the quickest. Does it signify a shift in the traditional ways and methods of Indian agriculture?

Given below is a snapshot of the major activities and expansion plans of top biotech firms of India:

(i) Serum Institute of India:
The Pune based Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest producer of MMR and DTP group of vaccines. The Institute produces several Recombinant and Combination vaccines (like Gene Vac-B), anti-cancer drugs, as well as anti-Sera, Plasma and Hormonal products. It has the distinction of being India’s largest exporter of vaccines, supplying in over 140 countries. Through the UNICEF and the Pan American health Organization, this company helps immunize over half the world’s children against measles and other dangerous diseases. Several countries have included the company’s vaccines in their respective National Immunization Programmes.

The Institute is engaged in serious research on Measles vaccine on Human Diploid Cells; industrial column chromatography and affinity chromatography for separation of immunoglobulins; Human Diploid Cells and Rabies vaccine; efficacy of Human growth hormone (rDNA)-SAIZEN in pre-pubertal children with growth hormone deficiency, etc.

(Source: www.seruminstitute.com, Company Annual report, 2006).

(ii) Biocon:
Biocon is India’s premier biotech company that specializes in biopharmaceuticals, custom research, clinical research and enzymes. The company is a leader in the field of bioprocessing and clinical research and development, and provides solutions/products in both domestic and international markets.

Biocon launched the world’s first recombinant human insulin, INSUGEN, in 2004. It also produced India’s first indigenous monocional antibody BIOMA-EGFRTM . The company has recently divested its enzymes business and decided to concentrate on its bio-pharma business verticals that include APIs, biologicals and proprietary molecules. The company is now focusing on several futuristic projects like microbial fermentation (both submerged and solid state), chemicals synthesis, human insulin and mammalian cell culture.

(Source: www.biocon.com)

(iii) Panacea Biotech:
Panacea Biotech is India’s leading health management company that specializes in developing innovative prescription medicines, breakthrough vaccines, peptides and monoclonal antibodies, and cutting edge new drug delivery technology. Panacea biotech is produces its flagship hepatitis B vaccine – enviseHB- in collaboration with the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cuba. The company has also recently developed several combination vaccines, the leading ones being Ecovac (DPT+Hepatitis B), Easy Four (DPT+HIV) and Easy Five (DPT+Hepatitis B+HIV). Vaccines for Anthrax and Japanese Encephalitis are under preparation.

Some popular medicines produced by Panacea Biotech include Nimulid tablets and gels, Betaglim, Glizaid range of medicines, Monovalent oral polio type I and type III vaccines, Ocimix, etc

(Source: www.panacea-biotec.com)

(iv) Monsanto Biotech:
The Mumbai based Monsanto India is credited with many revolutionary products and technological breakthroughs in agricultural sciences. The company is famous for producing the BT- cotton (Bollgard) which plays an important role in India’s agrarian economy.

(Source: www.monsanto.com)

(v) Rasi Seeds:
Rasi Seeds, based in Salem, is well known for its efforts in hybrid cotton and other insect resistant technology. The company is also in the process of making rapid advances in the field of plant germplasm (collection, conservation, and utilization in crop improvement); breeding for new lines with earliness, erect leaves, orangef-flint and orange yellow semi dent grain colours; development of new single cross, modified single cross and three way cross hybrids for evaluation and identification of high yield hybrid combinations.

(Source: www.rasiseeds.com/home.html)

(vi) Venkateshwara Hatcheries:
Venkateshwara Hatcheries is the torchbearer of modern poultry industry in India. It is a Rs 1300 crore conglomerate dedicated to integrated poultry development. The Group is credited with its ability to indigenize the Babcock (layer) and Cobb (broiler) breeds. The group has earned accolades for genetic research of Venco and VRB, joint ventures of the group with Cobb Vantress and ISA Breeder- that has paid considerable dividends to the Indian poultry farmers and the Indian economy.

Major activities/milestones of the VH group include use of specific pathogen free eggs in the manufacture of poultry vaccines; production of specific pathogen free eggs in India; manufacture of automated poultry equipment; introduction of combined and inactivated (killed) vaccines; setting up of sophisticated disease diagnostic, surveillance and monitoring laboratories, etc.

(Source: www.venkys.com)

(vii) Novo Nordisk:
Novo Nordisk is well known for its accomplishments in the field of diabetes care in India. Over the last decade, the company has come up with revolutionary products and services that has brought about considerable improvement in the lives of the diabetics all over the country. Novo Nordisk mainly produces the Novomix-30 (premixed insulin analogue) and NovoRapid (rapid acting insulin analogue) that provides succor to millions of diabetes patient in India and abroad.

Besides diabetes care, the company is also engaged in further research in the fields of growth hormone therapy and haemostasis management.

(Source: www.novonordisk.com)

(viii) Tulip:
Tulip Group of Companies is the leading Indian group of diagnostic companies, which is involved in the manufacture and marketing of in vitro Diagnostic reagents and kits, both for domestic and international markets.

Tulip Group comprises eight independent diagnostic companies - Tulip Diagnostics (P) Ltd, Microxpress, Orchid Biomedical Systems, Coral Clinical Systems, Qualpro Diagnostics, Tulip Marketing (P) Ltd, Zephyr Biomedicals and Lilac Medicare (P) Ltd. These companies are engaged in specific areas of research, development and design systems, and platforms within the assigned technological areas. At present, the company is concentrating on Immunohaematology, Immunology (Fertility, Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases), Immunoturbidimetry, Haemostasis, Haematology, Clinical Microbiology, Parasitology, Virology, Cardiac and Cancer Markers, Clinical Biochemistry and Instrumentation.

(Source: www.tulipgroup.com)

(ix) Indian Immunologicals:
Indian Immunologicals Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), is a leading organization of India that deals with veterinary science and medicines. The company produces a whole range of cattle vaccines, canine vaccines, sheep vaccines, etc.

(Source: www.indimmune.com)

(x) Transasia Biomedicals:
Transasia Biomedicals has been a leader in the field of Clinical Diagnostic Equipments and Reagents for the last two decades. Today it is a premier company, with over 1700 installations all over the country. It is also supported by a network of 25 service centres. In collaboration with leading International companies like SYSMEX, WAKO & NITTEC of Japan, BIOHIT of Finland & TRACE of Australia, the company has been manufacturing many equipment related to the field of Biochemistry and Hematology. The company also exports to a number of countries like China, Korea, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Turkey, and USA.

(Source: www.transasia.co.in)

Thus, the Indian biotech sector is coming of age. However, there are a few potential pitfalls down the road that everyone must be aware of. One can notice a distinct preference for outsourcing and contract research at this point of time. Companies, however, should stick to basics and keep their focus on original R&D and innovation. They should not depend too much on the growing trend of contract farming and research. Outsourcing can fetch more money for biotech firms alright, but it may also blunt their inherent comparative advantage in the long run, unless complemented by original research. It’s time to be confident, but vigilant.

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