Challenges in patentability for incremental innovation in the pharmaceutical industry

2^nd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs

November 23-24, 2012 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Komal Shah-Bhukhanwala

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Pharmaceut Reg Affairs

Abstract :

The session will address the criteria for patentability at the Indian Patent Office, recent decisions by courts in various pharmaceutical patent cases, use of expert testimony and evidence during prosecution and opposition of pharmaceutical patent applications, and challenges for the pharmaceutical industry in protecting incremental innovation in India.

Biography :

Ms. Komal Shah-Bhukhanwala is the Director of InnovarIP, an Intellectual Property (IP) Advisory firm. At InnovarIP, Ms. Shah-Bhukhanwala, has developed a diverse clientele including multinationals, local Indian companies, universities and independent inventors. She also advises clients on patent strategy, patent search, patent prosecution, clearance, patent oppositions, patent due-diligence, etc. At InnovarIP, she has been exceptionally involved in managing IP portfolio for clients in varied industries like Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Life sciences, Chemicals, Agro-Chemicals, Fertilizers, Mechanical, Engineering, Energy / Renewable Energy, Power, Information Technology (IT) ? Software & Hardware, Telecommunications and many more. Prior to InnovarIP, Ms. Shah-Bhukhanwala was leading the patent practice group at one of the leading IP Law firm in Mumbai. There, Ms. Shah-Bhukhanwala led and trained the group on patent matters for clients like Motorola, IBM, etc., where she worked on telecom and networking patent applications. She has also worked as a chemical engineer at Sulphur Mills Ltd., Mumbai, a mid-size agrochemical company, where she developed new formulations for reduced dosage and actively initiated IP activities at the company. She worked at Du Pont, USA, as a process engineer manufacturing health foods and also has research experience in the development of drug screening systems using small-molecule protein interactions and microarrays. Ms. Shah-Bhukhanwala holds a Bachelor?s in Chemical Engineering from Christian Brothers University, Memphis, USA, a Master?s in Biochemistry from Boston University, USA and an MBA from IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain. She is registered to practice at the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Indian Patent Office.