Biotech major Biocon plans to pursue multiple regional partner models to market insulin and insulin analogs globally.

Addressing reporters after announcing company's results, Biocon Chairman and Managing Director, Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, said “post-Pfizer deal we are exploring to leveraging our multiple regional partners to market insulin.”

“We have got new opportunity to consolidate our old position in the market and look for new partners globally,” she added.

Recently, Biocon and Pfizer called off their $350 million deal to commercialise the insulin products.

Ms Mazumdar-Shaw said, “We already have few partners globally and to name a few they are Aspin in Brazil, and South Africa, Lab Pisa in Mexico. This will also strengthen to distribute the products and to have marketing presence in major markets.”

Through this multiple regional partner models, the company is planning to strengthen its marketing presence in Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, Europe and the US.

“Through the deal with Pfizer, we were handicapped in many ways for we could not touch the retail market nor equip out existing partners with devices. Now we have an excellent opportunity to expand our product range as well,” she explained.

Ms Mazumdar-Shaw said that the company is in advanced stage of talks with potential partners for oral insulin in Europe and the US.

Licensing deal

The company is in talks with few potential companies on a licensing deal for Itolizumab. “The talks are still at an early stage,” said Ms Mazumdar-Shaw.

Itolizumab, is first the company's indigenously developed novel monoclonal antibody, completed a Phase III study for the treatment of Psoriasis in Indian patients in December last year. anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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