On the financial front, Biocon recently raised ₹4,500 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP), its first capital raise since its initial public offering (IPO) over 20 years ago.
By Ekta Batra August 8, 2025, 5: 41: 35 PM IST (Published)
Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, is optimistic about long-term growth opportunities in both the insulin market and GLP-1 therapies, even as trade talks continue between India and the United States. CEO & MD Shreehas Tambe says the company is confident that pharmaceutical exemptions in global trade will continue, allowing uninterrupted access to life-saving drugs.
“There is a sense that these are life-saving drugs,” Tambe said. “Interruptions can cause more damage than benefit.” He added that pharmaceutical products have traditionally been exempted from global tariff disputes, benefiting healthcare access in the US and other countries.
Tambe highlighted Biocon Biologics’ global presence, with distributed manufacturing and localised facilities in markets such as the US.
Also Read | No immediate plans for further stake sales or Biocon Biologics IPO: CEO Siddharth Mittal
On the product side, Tambe said Biocon Biologics is uniquely positioned as “the only company in the world with biosimilar insulin that has interchangeable status and also manufactures GLP-1 peptides.” This gives the company a strong foothold in both therapy areas, with potential for synergy and co-existence between insulin and newer peptide drugs.
Insulin remains a core therapy for glycemic control, while GLP-1 drugs, such as Semaglutide and Liraglutide, are gaining traction for blood sugar and weight management. “We see an opportunity for enhancement and expansion, rather than one cannibalising the other,” Tambe said.
Biocon has already gone commercial with Liraglutide, a GLP-1 that has lost exclusivity. The product was first approved in the UK and will expand to Canada, parts of Europe, and eventually the US. Tambe said the company will not disclose commercial timelines for competitive reasons but confirmed it is “fully backwards integrated” with shared manufacturing platforms for both insulin and GLP-1 therapies.
The company is also pursuing Semaglutide and other peptides. “Once we pick a therapy area, we pursue it fully,” he said, underlining Biocon’s strategy of long-term commitment in biosimilars and speciality biologics.
On the financial front, Biocon recently raised ₹4,500 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP), its first capital raise since its initial public offering (IPO) over 20 years ago. The funds are being used to reduce structured debt taken during a major acquisition that expanded the com