Biocon ties up with Bayer for marketing INSUGEN

Bangalore, July 19: Indian Biotech major Bicon Limited has has made a major foray into the international market by signing up with Bayer HealthCare (BHC), a multinational healthcare company, for exclusive marketing and trademark rights for INSUGEN, a recombinant human insulin, in the Chinese market.

The Company, in a release here today said, the collaboration would expand to other Asia Pacific countries.

Biocon expected to launch INSUGEN in the Chinese market by 2007-08 after completing necessary local registration trials.

The incidence of Diabetes was rapidly increasing in China, especially in urban areas. Currently, 40 million people in China suffer from diabetes and there were estimated 3000 new cases each day.

Commenting on the agreement, Biocon Chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said INSUGEN had already achieved critical mass in the Indian market with substantial market share gained since launch, and increasing.

''The agreement with Bayer reiterates our commitment to providing biotechnology solutions to diabetes-the 21st century pandemic. We believe that Bayer is strongly positioned to achieve significant market share for INSUGEN in China,'' she said, adding that this also signals Biocon's entry into branded formulations in the International market.

Dr Jean-Luc Lowinski, Senior Vice President, Bayer HealthCare Asia Pacific said, ''The agreement is pursuant to Bayer HealthCare's local strategy to strengthen its Diabetes franchise, and at the same time, our presence in China. This deal is the first of its kind in the prescription pharmaceutical market in China and we are delighted to partner with an expert in the field of insulin to deliver a state-of-the-art product.'' The exclusive marketing rights and trademark agreement covered three formulations of insulin: Fast-acting (R), intermediate-acting (N), and mixed-acting, in both vials and cartridges. These apply to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This investment would create a platform for complete diabetes management and an excellent growth potential in the future for Biocon and Bayer HealthCare in China and other markets, the release added.

UNI