Inclusive innovation: how Biocon brought biotech to all – Impact Economist

Biocon’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Biocon, a global biopharmaceutical enterprise, makes a significant contribution to SDG 3 by enhancing health outcomes for millions of patients across 120 countries.
• The company’s primary focus is on developing affordable medicines for chronic conditions, directly supporting the SDG 3 target of ensuring access to essential medicines for all.
• By enabling equitable access to treatments, Biocon plays a critical role in promoting well-being and healthy lives.

Promoting SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The founding of Biocon by Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw, who overcame considerable gender bias, exemplifies the principles of SDG 5.
• Her leadership in pioneering India’s first major biotech startup and growing it into a multibillion-dollar global company serves as a powerful model for women’s empowerment in science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Fostering Innovation and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 9 & SDG 10)

• Biocon’s operational strategy is centered on industry innovation (SDG 9) as a means to reduce health-related inequalities (SDG 10).
• The company has established itself as a leader in developing biosimilars—affordable, high-quality alternatives to expensive biologic medicines.

1. Recombinant Human Insulin (2004): This groundbreaking development addressed a critical healthcare gap in India. It provided an affordable and biologically compatible alternative to animal insulin, significantly improving diabetes management and reducing health inequality.
2. Biosimilar Trastuzumab (2014): The introduction of this biosimilar increased access to a vital cancer therapy, making life-saving treatment available to a broader patient population and directly contributing to the goal of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and achievements that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core focus of the article is on Biocon’s mission to develop affordable medicines for chronic conditions and provide equitable access to patients, which is central to ensuring healthy lives.
   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article prominently features the story of the founder, Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw, a woman who pioneered a biotech startup and overcame gender bias to lead a multibillion-dollar global company. This directly relates to empowering women and ensuring equal opportunities in economic life.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article describes Biocon as India’s “first and most successful biotech startup,” highlighting its role in pioneering an industry, driving scientific innovation (developing biosimilars), and building a global biopharma infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be identified:

   • Target 3.8 (under SDG 3): Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines for all. The article’s emphasis on Biocon’s focus on “developing affordable medicines” and “enabling equitable access to patients” directly supports this target. The development of affordable biosimilars like human insulin is a clear example.
   • Target 3.4 (under SDG 3): By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment. The article mentions Biocon’s work on “chronic conditions” and its development of medicines like insulin and biosimilar trastuzumab (a cancer drug), which are crucial for treating non-communicable diseases and reducing premature mortality.
   • Target 5.5 (under SDG 5): Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in economic life. Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw’s journey of founding and leading Biocon into a “multibillion-dollar global biopharma company” despite facing “gender bias” is a direct illustration of achieving this target.
   • Target 9.5 (under SDG 9): Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries. The article describes how Biocon “pioneered biotech for India” and developed a “pipeline of biosimilars,” including the “groundbreaking recombinant human insulin.” This is a direct example of enhancing scientific research and technological capability within a developing country.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides qualitative and descriptive information that implies progress related to specific SDG indicators, although it does not cite official statistical data.

   • For Target 3.8: The development of “affordable alternatives to pricey biologics” like recombinant human insulin and biosimilar trastuzumab serves as a qualitative indicator for Indicator 3.b.1 (Proportion of the population with access to affordable medicines and vaccines on a sustainable basis). The statement that the company is “serving millions of patients across 120 countries” implies progress towards Indicator 3.8.1 (Coverage of essential health services).
   • For Target 5.5: Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw’s position as the founder and leader of a major global company is a powerful, albeit anecdotal, example related to Indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions). Her success story serves as a qualitative measure of women achieving top leadership roles in the economic sphere.
   • For Target 9.5: The creation of “groundbreaking recombinant human insulin in 2004” and a “pipeline of biosimilars” is an implied indicator of successful research and innovation outcomes, which relates to Indicator 9.5.1 (Research and development expenditure) and Indicator 9.5.2 (Researchers per million inhabitants), as such achievements require significant investment in R&D and skilled personnel.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (as implied in the article)
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to affordable essential medicines. Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.	Implied Indicator 3.b.1: Development of affordable medicines (biosimilars) like human insulin, enabling equitable access. Implied Indicator 3.8.1: Serving millions of patients across 120 countries. Implied Progress: Providing affordable treatments for chronic conditions.
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life.	Implied Indicator 5.5.2: A woman founder overcoming gender bias to lead a multibillion-dollar global company.
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities of industrial sectors in developing countries.	Implied Indicator 9.5.1/9.5.2: Pioneering the biotech industry in India and developing groundbreaking products like recombinant human insulin, indicating significant R&D activity and success.

Source: impact.economist.com