Biocon’s Syngene and Bristol-Myers Squibb open new R&D facility in India

Syngene International, a subsidiary of Biocon, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has opened a new R&D facility for Bristol-Myers Squibb in Biocon Park, Bangalore, India.

The 200,000 square-foot facility at Biocon Park is dedicated to helping advance Bristol-Myers Squibb’s work in discovery and early drug development, and is currently occupied by 270 researchers. Construction on the facility began in March 2007, when Bristol-Myers Squibb and Biocon entered into an agreement to develop integrated drug discovery and development capabilities at Syngene.

The facility will house 360 researchers by the end of 2009 and could accommodate as many as 450 employees in the future. Work at the facility will span the drug discovery and development process from initial hit to lead optimization to early pharmaceutical development to clinical nomination to Phase I and Phase II clinical studies.

Elliott Sigal, chief scientific officer and president of R&D at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: We are pleased to build upon our more-than 10 year relationship with Biocon with the completion of this dedicated R&D facility and the establishment of this integrated R&D center in Asia. The opening of this facility is an integral part of our company’s strategy to access top talent around the world and establish a R&D presence in Asia.