Financial Leverage – Biocon has maintained a constant Debt/ Equity ratio between in the last 5 years, which gives it a financial leverage, thus letting the share holders enjoy the earnings and also makes the organization financially strong. Skills in Enzymes – Biocon with its recombinant DNA technology has managed to achieve a different share in the industry, its products like Insugen from recombinant human DNA, BIOMAb EGFR India’s first anti cancer drug could be some of the examples.
Little or no risk associated with Business model: A well diversified business model spans the entire drug value chain through vertical integration. The subsidiary companies like Syngene, Clingene, NeoBiocon, Axi Corp GmBH, Biocon Biopharmaceuticals Private Limited. Thus has clearly diversified the risk across the globe.
US FDA Approval for drugs – The US Food and Drug Administration to its drugs means that they can market and sell their drugs internationally too. Competence in Molecular Biology- Being India’s first biotechnology company to have exported its molecules to US and Europe, with its core competency in Human recombinant insulin and also its advances in oral insulin makes it the best competitor.
Low cost in Clinical research- Indian scenario makes it easier for Clinical research which is a very expensive affair worldwide which is a must before the launch of any drug, apart from the geographical advantage of cheap subjects, Biocon also through is subsidiary Syngene has a strategic role in cost cutting while in clinical research.
Strong Management- Ms. Kiran M Shaw has successfully proven to be the only driving force of Biocon, and they management under her has proven its competency over time with achieving growth as high as168%. Unique products – Biocon has always had a niche for its uniquesness and using biotechnology for the same, its unique products appreciated worldwide are Insugen – A Human recombinant Insulin, IN -205 – Oral Insulin, BIOMAb EGFR – First molecule based anti cancer drug. Strong Research and Development- The company has strong skills in fermentation technology which have helped it to grow in the enzymes and API segment.
In spite of the huge success Biocon is been doing in its Research and development it has failed it reaching out its products to the customers and also to the medical practitioners who do get a first hand information on the product and can prescribe to the patients. 80% of turnover come from Statins – Biocon has emphasized its sales of Statin which accounts for 45% of their revenue and their other products are not even close to coming the revenue it generates where as all the anti cancer drugs can be used for the purpose.
Least expertise in final stages. Biocon’s oral drug delivery which is a remarkable invention in the history of insulin administration due to problems faced by patients in needle administration and the fear for syringes has still not cleared its final stages. Association between pharmaceutical and biotechnology: Both pharmaceuticals and biotechnology has a same target market and they have failed miserably in understanding the linkages and they should be looking at associating themselves together to form a synergy.
Acquisitions – Biocon Biopharma (CIMAB) is one example of acquisitions which needs to be replicated and more such organizations which will lead to further growth of Biocon have to be done, thus intergrating both Vertically and horizontally. Innovations- Biocon has largely concentrated on Oncology, Endocrinology and has a good opportunity in innovating more products in hormonal disorders, which can be achieved more successfully by biotechnology rather than pharmacology. Product and services expansions – Product expansions can include genetically reengineered products in all fields of medicine and also can extend their services into veterinary medicine an unexplored area for biotechnology firms, which is lot easier in case of clinical trials especially in india. Growing enzyme market – With the advent of Insugen the market for enzymes is been growing rapidly and with the modernization the diseases and illness have been increasing rapidly which would also lead to the unaccountable growth in the industry.
Outsource to reduce cost – A lot of Marketing and PR activities can be outsourced in order to prevent the core competency from growing nil, i. e. the main competency lies in Research and development which can be concentrated upon. India preferred destination for clinical trials – By participating in clinical trials, India will benefit scientifically; research on new drugs will be accelerated, new drugs will be made available to Indians at the same time it becomes available to the developed world. With this kind of opportunities the acquisition of CIMAB has shown that they have moved in that direction but right now limits is 80% of usage to its own products which can be explored by outsourcing it to different products too.
Risk in drug innovation: All drug innovations carry a huge risk with them, a molecule can be studied for more than a decade and still not be launched in the end when the usage is limited, thus leading to a huge risk associated with the raising of funds and convincing the share holders in securing the threshold of thrust. Generic market over crowded: The Indian industry is known for the generic drug model, where their costs are limited to replicate the drugs already produced thus can reproduce them with low cost of production and cannibalize the market of Biocon.
The recession of 2008 had a tremendous adverse effect on the drug industry and this can also be repeated when such an event occours. * External Changes- Product substitutions- Substitutes to enzymes could also be another drawback to the drug industry, however this is still disputed as most of the critics believe that the enzyme market is growing at a rate of 6. % and will achieve an all time growth of $ 7 Billion in the next five years. Acquisitions by other international giants- Pfizer has already tried acquiring Biocon in 2010 and there would be other firms which will be looking at it s acquisition.
Reference
- http://www. moneycontrol. com/financials/biocon/ratios/BL03
- http://economictimes. indiatimes. com/news/news-by-company/earnings/earnings-news/biocon-q2-net-profit-up-20-pc-at-rs-89-cr/articleshow/6794113. cms
- http://www. biocon. com/biocon_aboutus_business. asp
