Biocon Biologics Ltd., a fully integrated pure play biosimilars company and a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd. has inducted Professor Peter Piot to its Board as an Independent Director.

Professor Peter Piot is the Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Handa Professor of Global Health.

Speaking on the appointment, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon said, “His thought leadership and invaluable experience in global healthcare will greatly guide our actions in building Biocon Biologics into an innovative global leader in biosimilars committed to delivering affordable access to life saving Biologics.”

On his decision to join the Biocon Biologics board, Professor Peter Piot said, “With several exciting biosimilar molecules in its pipeline, I believe Biocon Biologics has the potential to be truly disruptive in addressing a global need for high quality, affordable biosimilar therapies to treat chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer and save many lives."

Professor Piot has been appointed to the board of Biocon Biologics Limited for a period of three years starting January 21, 2021.

Professor Peter Piot was initially trained in infectious diseases and medical microbiology with original contributions in epidemiology, bacteriology, virology and public health policy interventions mostly in low- and middle-income countries.

Professor Piot was part of the team that isolated the Ebola virus in Zaire in 1976. He also led pioneering research on HIV/AIDS, women’s health and infectious diseases mostly in Africa.

He was the founding Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1995 until 2008, bringing AIDS to the forefront of the world’s agenda and ensuring access to life saving antiretroviral medicines.

He has authored over 600 scientific publications and 16 books, including his memoir “No Time to Lose”. He is the recipient of the Calderone Prize, the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Research, the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health, the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award and the Robert Koch Gold Medal, and was a 2014 Time Person of the Year “The Ebola Fighters”.