Latest news with #BioconGroup
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Biocon Foundation partners with NCBS and BeST Cluster to support 25 women in STEM
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), announced the launch of BioWISE, an initiative aimed to help disadvantaged female science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences. The programme aims to support 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, thereby enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly the life sciences. In the first State-level cohort, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences background will be supported. The students will be selected from colleges and universities across the State. Mentorship and exposure During the cohort duration, which is six months for PG students and three months for UG students, the students will be provided with exposure, training, and mentorship. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding, and experts from Biocon Biologics will support with mentorship. NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme's design, management, and implementation. In a statement from Biocon Foundation, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, 'Empowering women in STEM through our program BioWISE, is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation's future. Our commitment to supporting women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and opportunity.' Identifying pockets During the cohort, participants will engage in mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. They will also get the opportunity to visit the research labs of NCBS, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jyoti Nivas College, and bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, research-oriented seminars and soft skills and communication training are the other features of the programme. 'It is important to work with the government to identify pockets from where we can pick up students,' saidAnupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, speaking to The Hindu during the launch event at NCBS. 'Where do we focus in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are the colleges where there is a larger women representation and good pass rates - these are some insights we need, and that is how we would be planning the community outreach,' she added. R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, noted that the initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends.
Mint
12-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Biocon to evaluate merger with subsidiary Biologics
Biocon Group's board is setting up a committee to evaluate strategic restructuring options, including a merger of its biosimilars arm Biocon Biologics Ltd with its flagship Biocon Ltd. The options would be evaluated taking into consideration matters relating to legal and tax aspects and subject to all approvals, including regulatory, board and shareholders, the company said in a release dated 8 May. The company had said in February that it would likely list its biosimilars business on the stock exchanges by March 2026. Also read: Biocon share price jumps 4% as subsidiary secures market entry for Yesafili in US '…given the market volatility that we are seeing on the IPO front, the board was of the opinion that we should look at other strategic options which also be includes evaluating a merger," Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson, Biocon Group, told investors in an earnings call on Friday. "So at this point in time the board has constituted a committee, we will evaluate all strategic options and then get back to you in a few months with what the committee recommends to the board," she added. Biocon's board also approved raising up to ₹4,500 crore by way of issue of securities via qualified institutional placements, rights issue or other permissible routes, the company said. The funds will be used for repaying borrowings by the company or its subsidiaries, fulfilling other debt obligations, as well as investments in subsidiaries. Also read: All India Chemists and Druggists association urges members to ensure adequate stock supplies in border states Biocon Biologics acquired US drugmaker Viatris' global biosimilars business in 2022 to expand its global footprint. The company's CEO and managing director Shreehas Tambe had previously said it would consider an IPO after it completed the integration of the Viatris portfolio. 'On a full-year basis, the company has recorded a strong 15% growth in FY25 and we have successfully consolidated our business worldwide," Tambe said in the release. 'Having built a strong foundation, we are well-positioned to launch 5 new products in the next 12-18 months and expand patient access." Biocon is a global biopharmaceuticals company which has developed and commercialised novel biologics, biosimilars and complex small molecule active pharma ingredients (APIs) in India and several key global markets, as well as generic formulations in the US, Europe and emerging markets. The company is focused on complex therapies in chronic segments like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune. Also read: Donald Trump announces 59% cuts in US prescription drug prices, one day after new pharma policy Biocon Biologics' four biosimilars recorded sales of $200 million each in FY25. The company also launched its fifth biosimilar product, Yesinket (Ustekinumab), in the US in FY25.
