JOINING THE GLOBAL LEAGUE
Kiran MazumdarShaw, 70 Executive Chairperson, Biocon Ltd and Biocon Biologics Ltd
THE ONE THING KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW RECALLS from 1978, when she was trying to hire her first set of recruits at Biocon, is how candidates would walk into the garage-office of her home in Bengaluru's Koramangala and want to meet the managing director. On discovering that the 'chit of a girl' sitting behind the desk was the one wanting to hire them, many were plainly disappointed, others even felt cheated. "Today, we have created a global-scale biotech company with very high-end research and scientific capabilities, and which has over 15,000 scientists and engineers."
Her career in biotech, however, is just one part of Kiran's multi-faceted personality. In 2019, she co-founded the start-up Immuneel along with renowned cancer physician Siddhartha Mukherjee to enable access to cell-based immunotherapies for cancer patients in India. She's on the board of numerous global institutions, including the US-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Last year, Biocon Biologics acquired the global biosimilars business of the firm's US-based partner Viatris Inc. for $3.34 billion. "I'm trying to create a global leader in biosimilars," says Kiran. "It's very ambitious and I know I'll try very hard to be among the top three, if not at the top."
This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the January 01, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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