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. With this expanded agreement, the partnership now covers a broader range of integrated services across the entire drug development lifecycle, thereby enabling a seamless transition from early research to commercialization.
Expanding End-to-End Drug Development Capabilities
Under the renewed collaboration, Syngene will continue to provide integrated services spanning discovery and development, including chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, translational sciences, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, clinical trials, as well as data and information technology services. As a result, both organizations aim to accelerate innovation while improving efficiency across research, development, and manufacturing programs.
Moreover, this expansion marks the next phase of growth in the partnership and further strengthens Syngene’s position as a strategic partner delivering comprehensive, end-to-end scientific and manufacturing solutions.
Leadership Perspectives on a Long-Term Partnership
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Bains, Managing Director and CEO of Syngene International Ltd., highlighted the strategic value of the collaboration. He stated that the partnership, which now spans over 25 years, is built on scientific excellence, operational reliability, and a shared commitment to advancing innovative therapies. According to him, extending the agreement through 2035 allows both organizations to plan jointly for the future, particularly in building new capabilities and infrastructure with a long-term, decade-long horizon. He further emphasized that this forward-looking approach enhances strategic value for both companies and enables Syngene to support BMS in its next wave of discovery, development, and manufacturing programs aimed at improving patient outcomes globally.
Similarly, Payal Sheth, Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Discovery Sciences at Bristol Myers Squibb, underscored the patient-centric focus of the collaboration. She noted that BMS greatly values its long-standing relationship with Syngene, which has played a critical role in advancing its scientific ambitions. Furthermore, she explained that the expanded collaboration reflects BMS’s commitment to integrating research, development, and manufacturing capabilities effectively, thereby accelerating the delivery of transformative medicines to patients worldwide.
A Collaboration Rooted in Scientific Excellence
As per the press release, the Syngene–Bristol Myers Squibb collaboration began in 1998 and led to the establishment of the Biocon Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center (BBRC), Syngene’s first dedicated R&D center. Fully commissioned in 2009, BBRC has since evolved into a major strategic R&D site for BMS.
Today, BBRC supports integrated capabilities across target identification, lead discovery and optimization, pharmaceutical development, molecular and cell biology, protein sciences, assay biology, and clinical biomarkers. Importantly, the center houses around 700 Syngene scientists who work as an extension of Bristol Myers Squibb’s global research organization. Together, they contribute to discovery, preclinical development, and patent filings across multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease, fibrosis, immunology, and oncology.
Accelerating Innovation and Reducing Development Timelines
Since its inception, BBRC has played a pivotal role in advancing novel compounds from early discovery to first-in-human studies. Consequently, the center has helped reduce development timelines and overall costs for Bristol Myers Squibb. Through this extended collaboration, both companies now aim to build on this strong foundation, drive sustained innovation, and ultimately deliver new treatment options to patients around the world.