Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Names Niece Claire Mazumdar as Biocon’s Successor

Claire Mazumdar, 37, currently serves as the founding CEO of Bicara Therapeutics, a company incubated by Biocon.

By Entrepreneur Staff | May 06, 2026

[L-R] Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw & Niece Claire Mazumdar

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Biocon Founder and Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has outlined a clear succession plan for the company, naming her niece Claire Mazumdar as the future leader of the biopharmaceutical group. The announcement signals a planned transition as the company prepares for its next phase of growth.

In an interview, Mazumdar-Shaw said Biocon is focusing on strengthening its presence in advanced biotechnology while integrating artificial intelligence into its operations. The move reflects the company’s intent to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving global healthcare landscape.

Claire Mazumdar, 37, currently serves as the founding CEO of Bicara Therapeutics, a company incubated by Biocon. Since taking charge in 2018, she has led the company’s growth and guided it to a public listing in 2024.

Bicara focuses on developing cancer therapies, including bi-specific antibodies that are currently undergoing clinical trials.

Before joining Bicara, Claire held leadership roles in the biotechnology sector. She led business development and corporate strategy at Rheos Medicines, where she played a key role in securing a partnership with Roche. She also worked at Third Rock Ventures, supporting company formation and business development across its portfolio. In addition, she serves on the board of Noora Health, a non-profit working to improve patient outcomes by training family caregivers.

Claire Mazumdar has a strong academic background, holding a degree in Biological Engineering from MIT, an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford School of Medicine. Her research has been published in leading scientific journals.

Sharing the update on X, Mazumdar-Shaw said, “Claire will transition into my role at the right time so not planning to hang up my boots just yet!!”

Founded in 1978 with an initial investment of INR 10,000, Biocon has grown into a global biopharmaceutical company, serving patients in more than 120 countries.