Top Biotech Companies in India

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Biotechnology is the use of microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeasts, or biological substances, such as enzymes, to perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes. It may also be termed as the use of living organisms or other biological systems in the manufacture of drugs or for environmental management. Biotechnology has been used exclusively over the years in fields such as medicine and agriculture. Most of the biotechnology companies are situated in the six most important cities in India; mainly, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad. The top biotech companies in India include Biocon, Serum Institute of India, Panacea Biotec and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.

The biotechnology industry is one of the fastest growing knowledge-based industries in India. It also has the potential to play a pivotal role in the rapid economic development of the country. Due to numerous advantages that the country has such as skills, knowledge, research and development (R&D) facilities and cost effectiveness, a number of top biotech companies have started their operations in this country. With comparative advantages and the presence of some top companies in the market, India has got the potential to come out as one of the key players in the global biotech sector. It is believed that both the population and the ecology of India have played a major role in the development of the industry. These two advantages have specifically contributed in areas such as drug discovery and research. The Indian government is also offering full support to the biotech sector by providing financial assistance and non-financial incentives at both the central and state level.

Currently, the Indian biotech industry holds a share of about 2 percent of the global biotech industry. The rate at which it is progressing will surely make India a prominent player in the biotech industry by 2025. By that time, the Indian biotech sector will touch the US$ 100-billion mark as per the estimates made by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE). India currently stands as the most preferred destination for pharmaceuticals, clinical trials, biotech products, diagnostics and outsourcing of research contracts.

Biotech Industry in India

Over the years, the biotechnology industry in India has witnessed a significant increase in the number of merger and acquisitions. It is said that due to the country's high-skilled labour and other low-cost advantages, many biotechnology firms in India gained numerous export contracts and other research and development related biotechnology services.
The Biotech Industry in India can be categorised into five different segments.
  • Biopharma: Biopharmaceuticals are generally proteins, drugs and antibodies that are used for diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Bioindustrial: Bioindustrial sector is related to enzymes, yeast and yeast-based products and organic amino acids.
  • Bioservices: Bioservices refers to research-based contract, manufacturing contracts and clinical research contracts.
  • Bioagri: Bioagri sector is related to biofertilisers, biopesticides and genetically modified seeds.
  • Bio-IT: This sector is related to different products and services that represent bioinformatics.

List of Top 10 Biotech Companies in India

Here are the most popular biotech companies in India:

Biocon

Established in 1978 and based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Biocon is an Indian biopharmaceutical enterprise. Biocon exports its pharmaceutical products to the American and European markets. Biocon's two subsidiaries are clinical research company Clinigene and custom research company Syngene. Biocon is present in over 70 countries around the world and is the leading biotechnology company in India. Biocon's businesses and services include small molecules, biosimilars, branded formulations, novel molecules and research services.

Serum Institute of India

Serum Institute of India is an Indian biotechnology company that manufactures immunobiological drugs and vaccines. It is a subsidiary of the Poonawalla Group. Serum Institute of India was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra. The company is amongst the leaders in making the Rubella, Tetanus, Measles and Diphtheria vaccines in India. It supplies vaccines and medicines to over 100 countries across the globe.

Panacea Biotec Limited

Panacea Biotech Limited was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in New Delhi. It is an Indian health management and research based pharmaceutical company involved in research and marketing of natural products, vaccines and pharmaceutical formulations. Panacea is surely amongst the top biotechnology companies in India that serve the medical fields such as nephrology, orthopaedic, respiratory and diabetology through their quality products. More than 60 countries receive the services of Panacea Biotech Limited

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited is also one of the leading biotech companies in India. It was established in 1984 and has its headquarters in Hyderabad, Telangana. A vast range of pharmaceutical products are manufactured by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in India and abroad. It produces diagnostic kits, biotechnology products and pharmaceutical Ingredients. The products of this company are exported to a number of countries in North America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Wockhardt

Wockhardt was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The premium range of products manufactured by Wockhardt belongs to pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical formulations. Wockhardt extends its services and products to over 15 countries around the world. The company employees close to 8,000 people across the globe.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited

One of the oldest and most experienced players in the biotechnology industry of India, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited was incorporated in 1924. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals is one of the world's top research based health management and pharmaceutical companies. Its medicines range across therapeutic areas such as respiratory diseases, anti-infectives, cardiovascular diseases, dermatology, oncology, gynaecology and diabetes. It also provides vaccines for cervical cancer, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, rota-virus, influenza, tetanus, chickenpox, pertussis and diphtheria amongst many.

Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited

Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited was started in 1971 and has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is an Indian manufacturer of biotechnological and pharmaceutical products. The significant medical fields that are covered by a wide range of pharmaceutical products provided by Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited are nephrology, critical care and haematology.

Novozymes

Novozymes is a Danish biotechnology company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and was founded in 2000. Novozymes exports its pharmaceutical products to a number of countries including India, China, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil amongst many. The wide range of products manufactured and marketed by Novozymes includes biopharmaceutical enzymes and ingredients that are supplied to bioenergy, agriculture, beverage and biopharma sectors.

Indian Immunologicals Limited

Indian Immunologicals Limited is a top Indian biotechnology company founded in 1982 by The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). It has biotechnology laboratories and manufacturing plant in Hyderabad, Rajkot and Ooty. Indian Immunologicals Limited is renowned for manufacturing vaccines for foot-and-mouth diseases such as bacterial diseases, rabies, hepatitis, canine vaccines, measles, DPT and MMR.

Shantha Biotechnics Limited

Shantha Biotechnics Limited is an Indian biotechnology firm incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. It is a subsidiary of the Sanofi Group and pioneered the development, production and marketing of 'recombinant human healthcare medicines' in India. The company manufactures vaccines for the diseases such diphtheria, tetanus, influenza and cholera.

WBVK WBVDA Last updated on January 17th, 2019

Alphabetical List of Indian Companies