Syngene International, Bristol Myers Squibb Extend Strategic Collaboration Through 2035
Mumbai: Syngene International, a global contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), has announced the extension of its long-standing strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) through 2035, further strengthening their partnership across the drug development lifecycle.
Under the expanded agreement, Syngene will continue to provide integrated services spanning discovery (chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics), translational sciences, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, clinical trials, as well as data and information technology (IT) services. The collaboration is aimed at enabling seamless progression of drug candidates from early research through to commercialization.
Commenting on the development, Peter Bains, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Syngene International Ltd., said, “Our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, which now spans more than 25 years, is anchored in scientific excellence, operational reliability, and a shared commitment to advancing innovative therapies. The agreement to extend this partnership through 2035 enables us to plan together for the future in terms of building new capabilities and infrastructure with a decade-long horizon. Taking a long-term perspective is a key feature of our partnership which adds strategic value to both companies. We look forward to supporting BMS with their next wave of discovery, development, and manufacturing programs that have the potential to improve patient outcomes worldwide.”
Payal Sheth, Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Discovery Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, said, “At Bristol Myers Squibb, everything we do begins with patients. We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Syngene, which has been instrumental in advancing our scientific ambitions. This expanded collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing innovative science by effective integration of our research, development, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the delivery of transformative medicines and bring hope to patients around the world who are waiting for new treatment options.”
The collaboration between Syngene and Bristol Myers Squibb dates back to 1998 and led to the establishment of the Biocon Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center (BBRC), Syngene’s first dedicated R&D center, which was fully commissioned in 2009. Over the years, BBRC has evolved into a major strategic R&D site for BMS, supporting integrated capabilities across target identification, lead discovery, lead optimization, pharmaceutical development, molecular and cell biology, protein sciences, assay biology, and clinical biomarkers.
Currently, the center houses around 700 Syngene scientists working as an extension of Bristol Myers Squibb’s global research organization and contributes to discovery, preclinical development, and patent filings across therapeutic areas including cardiovascular diseases, fibrosis, immunology, and oncology.
Since its inception, BBRC has played a pivotal role in accelerating the progression of novel compounds from early discovery to first-in-human studies, helping reduce development timelines and overall costs for Bristol Myers Squibb.
Syngene International Ltd. is an integrated research, development, and manufacturing services company serving the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, animal health, consumer goods, and specialty chemical sectors. With a workforce of over 8,200 employees, including 5,600 scientists, Syngene operates more than 2.5 million sq. ft. of specialized discovery, development, and manufacturing facilities across India and the United States. The company works with over 400 global customers, including leading multinationals such as Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Zoetis, and Merck KGaA.
