Venturing towards biogeneric insulin

Biocon-Shantha Biotechnics Ltd., a 50:50 joint venture between Shantha Biotechnics Pvt. Ltd. and Biocon India Ltd., was formed to do what neither company could do on its own: produce biogeneric insulin in commercial quantities.

"Recombinant human insulin as a product is off patent by the end of 2002. The Biocon-Shantha product will be available in 2003, based on a process that will not infringe any existing process technology patents," Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon (Bangalore, India), told BioCentury...