The Hindu Business Line : Biocon bets big on oral insulins, antibodies

Having successfully launched the country's first indigenously developed drug to combat head and neck cancer last week, Biocon Ltd is now betting big on the evolving opportunities in the space of oral insulins and monoclonal antibodies.

According to the Biocon Chairman and Managing Director, Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the potential market for oral insulin was estimated at around $1-3 billion, while the market size of monoclonal antibodies was expected to triple to $30.3 billion in six years period from $10.3 billion in 2004.

"Non-invasive insulins are emerging as potential growth drivers of the insulin segment," she, said while addressing a meeting of the Medically Aware and Responsible Citizens of Hyderabad (MARCH) here on Sunday.

Interacting with the medical and scientific fraternity, she said oral insulin has potential to enhance patient acceptance, patient compliance and thereby improved diabetes management. It is not only targeted at ensuring patient convenience but also enhanced therapeutic benefit.

Stating that Biocon has lined up several molecules in the cardio-diabetes research space, Ms Shaw said the oral insulin molecule (IN-105) is currently in phase-I clinical trials and expected to enter phase-II trials sometime next year. "The phase-I evidences are looking exciting. If everything goes well in phase-II and III, the oral insulin should be launched at least in India by early 2009," she said.

According to her, the company found major opportunities emerging in the area of diabetes drug market, which is estimated to double to $35-billion by 2012 from $17-billion in 2005, as per a report by Morgan Stanley.

Within the oncology segment, Biocon is upbeat on the opportunities for biotech-enabled cancer therapies. Citing the Morgan Stanley report, Ms Shaw said, "The market for biotech-enabled cancer therapies is estimated to nearly double to $29-billion by 2008 from $15-billion in 2003. Antibodies are going to be one of the next big businesses of Biocon," she said.