Dr. Alka Mehta

Qualification             : M. Pharm., Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics); LLB, PGDPLP, PhD (Law).

Specialization            : Pharmaceutics and Intellectual Property (Patents)

Experience                : (Industry – 25 years, Academics -15 years)

She has been in pharma Industry for almost 25 years. Have recently worked at Alkem Laboratories Limited as Global Head IP from Jan 2019-Mid May 2020. At Alkem Limited, her IP responsibilities involved managing Global IP department (API IP and Formulation IP). In previous assignments, she has worked for Lupin Limited from Jan 2016 -Dec 2018 as Head, IP (Formulations) leading a team of 35+ professionals. Prior to that, she worked with Cipla limited as Head, IP Department (was leading a team of 25+professionals, been responsible for setting up the same single-handedly from scratch). Prior to that worked with Novartis, IPCA and Wockhardt in R & D and Regulatory departments.

Academic: She was a visiting faculty to teach various patent modules at NMIMS Patent Courses, NMIMS and SVKM Pharmacy Colleges, SNDT and other Mumbai University Pharmacy colleges for pharmaceutics. Examiner and paper-setter for Post-graduate Pharma students from NMIMS, SNDT and Mumbai University. She has been an invited speaker on Patent law at various National and International Forums. She was invited as examiner of Patent Agents by Indian Patent Office too.

Interest areas:

-Intellectual Property (Patents)

-Pharmaceutics

-Pharma Regulatory Affairs

-Generic pharmaceutical development and pharma strategies

Research

• Publications – Total number (International-1,National-2)
• Books- -
• Book Chapters- -
• Patents- -
• Presentations- Total number (International>15, National>20)
• Government funded projects – -
  • Completed (Title of the project, funding agency, amount in Rs.)
  • Ongoing (Title of the project, funding agency, amount in Rs.)
• Industry projects
  • Completed (Title of the project, name of industry, amount in Rs.)
  • Ongoing (Title of the project, name of industry, amount in Rs.)

Conferences/Workshops/Seminars attended and presented - Total number. : (75+)

Academic activities:

Taught various pharmacy subjects (viz. pharmaceutics, Industrial Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical analysis, instrumental analysis, Cosmetology and Pharmaceutical Microbiology to B. Pharm, M. Pharm, and MSc (Microbiology) students during post-graduation, Ph.D.

• Have taught pharmaceuticals, regulatory affairs IP/Law at various teaching institutes of pharmacy and IP/Law (viz. Mumbai University, SNDT University, NMIMS University, MET University and others) as visiting faculty for post-graduate, PG diploma and Ph.D. students.
• Was "Expert Committee member” on improvements in Pharmacy course for NMIMS University
• Was invited as Examiner to Indian Patent Office, Mumbai in 2015 for conducting Indian Patent Agent’s exam.
• Designated as IP expert in IIC committee for N.M. Pharmacy College till date.
• Have conducted IP lecture series to Pre-PhD students for NMIMS recently (Jan-May 2020).
• Have taught Alternate dispute resolution and IP to Law students of NMIMS (June-November 2020) and in IP workshop arranged by NMIMS IIC Committee in March 2021.
• Designated as "Expert Committee Member” on improvements in Law course for M.Pharm+MBA curriculum for NMIMS in April 2021.

Awards

• Was recognized amongst "Top 100 Powerful Women in Law” by World Intellectual Property Forum (in 2017 and in 2021).
• Was also nominated as distinguished IP Counsel (Female) category in the year 2018 by Legal Era
• Was designated as IP star by Managing IP forum in 2015.
• Editorial Interview was published in UK Business Law Journal on Current Patent Scene of Indian Generic Pharma in November 2015.
• Was awarded "Maximum Granted Patents Award” by Govt. of India and Pharmexcil for Cipla IP head (Dr. Alka) and team in 2015
• Selected by Managing IP Group Asia for IP Professional interview in April 2014 http://www.managingip.com/Article/3335370/Generics-need-patent-protection-too.html
• Selected to receive IP Case Winner Award and represented my views on the same among 5 Asian Companies, at Hong Kong IP ASIA MEET in December 2013.

Professional Memberships

• Indian Patent Agent
• Indian Pharmaceutical Association

Recent Publications

• Mehta Alka, Karve Smita, Access to Medicines and Compulsory Licensing in the post TRIPS Scenario; Rex Journal, ISSN 2321-1067, Volume 8, 2020, pp 4-10.
• Mehta Alka, Adinarayan, M., Chatlani Vandana, Prescriptions for Protection, India Business Law Journal, September 2015, Volume 9, issue 3, page: 19-21
• Mehta Alka, Karve Smita, Effect of Covid-19 on Indian Pharma Generics Business: Promenading in Proven Directions; Rex Journal, ISSN 2321-1067, Volume 8, 2020, pp 11-15.