<div id="readability-page-1"><div>Biocon is stepping up its hunt for in-licensing deals to fast-track growth in its biosimilars business, betting that partnerships can plug portfolio gaps without the long gestation of in-house development.“We are on the active lookout,” chief executive officer and managing director Shreehas Tambe told media, underlining that the company has already built a global commercial footprint and can now add external assets that are “synergistic” to its portfolio.After years of heavy investment in building scale and R&amp;D capabilities, Biocon is now looking to leverage its commercial platform more efficiently, including by bringing in products it doesn’t develop.Biocon, which completed the integration of Viatris' global biosimilars business in December 2023, has a commercial presence in advanced markets, including the US, Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, and over 70 emerging markets.Biocon Biologics acquired Viatris' biosimilar business in November 2022 for $3.335 billion.The company has commercialised 12 biosimilar products globally and serves over 6.5 million patients annually, it said. The company maintains a robust pipeline of over 20 biosimilar assets. But the company is looking for more.Biosimilars are low cost are identical copies of biologic medicines, which are developed after the original biologic patent expires. They are used for treating diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders.Why in-licensing matters nowFor a biosimilars player, time is critical. Developing a biosimilar can take years and significant capital; missing the launch window when patents expire can mean losing first-mover advantage.That’s where in-licensing fits in. By acquiring or partnering on near-market or approved assets, Biocon can accelerate launches, deepen therapy presence and improve asset utilisation.Tambe pointed to this logic — if the company has strength in a therapy area but lacks a specific molecule, it would “be happy to bring it in” to complete the portfolio and drive it through its commercial network.Biocon has already used it selectively. Tambe cited Etanercept biosimilar as an example of using an in‑licensing partnership to strengthen its portfolio.“Look at the opportunity we’ve got with Etanercept where we brought that product in because we’re not developing ourselves, but we needed that product to complete the portfolio… and now we have a commercial front end which can drive the product,” he said. Etanercept is used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.Biosimilars remain Biocon's growth engine. The segment generated Rs 10,431 crore in FY26 revenue, growing 16 percent year-on-year, with EBITDA margins around 26 percent.Tambe said recent launches are beginning to scale, with multiple products expected to drive growth in the coming quarters. He doesn't see a reason why the EBITDA margins biosimilar business can rise to 30 percent in the coming quarters.The shift toward in-licensing also mirrors where Biocon is in its lifecycle.“Major investment phase is substantially behind us,” Tambe said, adding the focus is now on improving capacity utilisation, margins and return on capital.The push for partnerships comes as the biosimilars space becomes more crowded globally. Tambe acknowledged rising competition but claimed that Biocon retains an edge due to early investments and capability leadership in complex biologics. Still, speed-to-market and portfolio breadth are becoming key differentiators—making external deal-making more important.As Tambe put it, the strategy is simple - identify gaps, plug them quickly, and use Biocon’s global commercial engine to scale.</div></div>

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Biocon is actively seeking in-licensing deals to enhance its biosimilars business, aiming to fill portfolio gaps without lengthy in-house development. CEO Shreehas Tambe emphasized the company's established global presence and the need for synergistic external assets. Following the integration of Viatris' biosimilars business, Biocon has commercialized 12 biosimilars and has over 20 in its pipeline. The strategy focuses on accelerating launches and improving asset utilization in a competitive market, with a goal to increase EBITDA margins to 30% in the coming quarters.

Biocon eyes in-licensing deals to accelerate biosimilars growth