Exclusive Interview with Dr. Swaranjit Singh, Deputy Director, Professor & Head Environmental Biotechnology and Microbial Biochemistry, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 

In this issue, we are extremely happy to publish interview of Dr. Swaranjit Singh, Deputy Director, Professor & Head Environmental Biotechnology and Microbial Biochemistry, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of environmental biotechnology and biosurfactant production. Dr. Swaranjit Singh is currently employed as Deputy Director at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh. Dr. Swaranjit Singh has been awarded many awards and is a Fellow of many National Academies.

Here are the excerpts of the exclusive interview with Dr. Swaranjit Singh from his write up:

Origiin: It is a great pleasure to interact with you and publish your thoughts in this interview.

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: It’s a pleasure for me too. The interview of mine that you published a couple of years back with Ms Bindu Sharma was a great hit.


Origiin: Tell us how you first got involved with Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank/IMTECH. Kindly share your experiences while working with Institute of Microbial Technology.

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: I did my M. Sc. Biochemistry from BHU and Ph.D. Biochemistry from RRL, now NEIST Jorhat in Assam. I was working as a scientist there. MTCC/IMTECH was newly being installed in a shed in the Industrial Area, Chandigarh. I got in touch with the Director that time Dr. Sandeep Basu and Dr. VC Vora. They called me to help MTCC/IMTECH in its formative years and join hand on the bioremediation of toxic pollutants. This is how I joined MTCC in 1987. It was a great experience working all these years in the youngest lab of the CSIR. It has grown and developed a lot with the dedicated efforts of the staff and students. Due to the excellent work of MTCC, it was elevated to an International Depository Authority (IDA) on 4 October, 2002 becoming the first IDA in our country.


Origiin: What were your main responsibilities involved in handling both service and research domain of your Organization?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: My main responsibility was to work in the Bacteria Section. I also took care of the Liquid Nitrogen Plant. This was a very important activity as the microbial cultures can be preserved very well for several years in the gaseous and liquid phases of Liquid Nitrogen wells. I also identified, preserved and supplied cultures to researchers. I actively helped in the training programs and wrote Chapters in the training manuals. I was member of two WFCC committees.
Besides this I did project work on (i) Bioremediation of Petroleum Sludge, (ii) pesticides, (iii) Study of Selenium transformation and its use in Prostrate Cancer inhibition, and (iv) Synthesis of Biosurfactants. My Publication h-index is 33 and the CI is 5860. Two of my publications were in list the 70 best CSIR papers that were announced by Dr. Samir Brahmachari, then DG CSIR. I have guided 10 Ph. D. students for their Ph. D. I did Post Doc from the PennState University USA and went for research to the Kobe University Japan and to KIT Karlsruhe, Germany for short stints.


Origiin: Kindly brief our reader about the importance of International Depositary Authority (IDA) and also when Institute of Microbial Technology did start functioning as IDA?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: IDA has a very important role in acting as a repository of microorganisms. Microorganisms can be deposited in an IDA under the Budapest Treaty and patent protection may be sought in contracting states. It is convenient for the citizens of India to do R & D as the facility for different services is available in our country itself. The research material and products can be procured at a cheaper rate when compared to imports at a higher value. The first IDA in India was recognized on October 4, 2002.


Origiin: To obtain a patent protection in India with respect to inventions relating to microorganisms, is it a mandatory step to deposit the culture with IDA?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: Yes, the culture has to be deposited in India. Apart from that the culture has also to be deposited in another culture collection to fulfill this requirement of deposit inventions related to microbes.


Origiin: What is the requirement to be fulfilled for submission of microorganisms in IDA? What are the benefits offered by this submission?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: In case of Patent protection in multiple countries the specific microbe(s) have to be deposited in IDAs of these countries/Unions. The laws of the different countries vary and have to be looked into. Likewise,the requirement to be fulfilled for submission of microorganisms in an IDA differs from IDA to IDA. The best thing would be to look up the public website of a relevant IDA. For e.g. the public websites in India are http://mtcc.imtech.res.in/downloads/brochure.pdf of Chandigarh and of Pune is http://www.nccs.res.in/mcc/index.html. All pertinent information is available on these links. 


Origiin: What are Biosurfactants (BS)? What are the major applications offered by production of Biosurfactants?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: Biosurfactants are structurally and functionally diverse amphiphilic, surface active compounds, which lower the surface and interfacial tension between individual molecules at respective surfaces and interfaces. Thus, these are very important in the living systems and can be regarded as the backbone of the biological membranes,which promise the transport and exchange of the various important materials. Biosurfactants are ecologically safe and can be applied in bioremediation processes. The microorganisms, which produce biosurfactants can also be used in the various bio remediation technologies like solubilization and removal of oil from contaminated oil, sludge in oil storage tank etc. The most important example of this is in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR), which is an ecofriendly petroleum recovery process.Variety of bacteria and few fungi are reported to produce biosurfactants using renewable and unconventional sources. They also have applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.


Origiin: Looking ahead, what do you think are the mega trends that will shape the future of innovation especially in the field of biotechnology?

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: In the present scenario people are talking of conversion of smart labs into Technology labs. A lot of research has been going on all these years in our country. Thus, a lot of data has accumulated in the Universities, Colleges and in the National Institutes. The mega-trend is to translate the basic data into potential Industrial Innovations. The gap between Institutes and the Industry has to be shortened and filled up. In fact, if Industries come in and work right from the beginning with researchers, many new products will flood our markets.


Origiin: Thank you so much for your valuable inputs and time spared for Origiin. I am sure our readers will thoroughly enjoy it. Wish you all the best for all your future endeavours.

Dr. Swaranjit Singh: Thank you.

Patent Alerts

Process of filing a patent application

Intellectual Property Rights

Column

Exclusive Interview with Dr Mahalaxmi Andheria, Vice President- Intellectual Property Cell,Panacea Biotec Ltd

This section is an initiative by Origiin, which introduces latest innovations and valuable expert opinions on protection, exploitation of Intellectual property, by Intellectual Property experts to provide inspiration to the readers and also make our readers aware about the emerging technologies, products and innovations. This section also aims at bringing out the importance of patent protection and the way such innovations make difference in evolution of technological progress. 

In this issue, we are extremely happy to publish interview of Dr Mahalaxmi Andheria, Vice President- Intellectual Property Cell,Panacea Biotec Ltd. Dr. Mahalaxmi Andheria brings with her an experience of more than 15 years from the Pharma& Biotech Industry. She has been actively involved in Formulation R&D for 5 years before she decided to switch to IPR and thereafter IPR has been her primary area of focus. In her present association with Panacea Biotec since the last 10 years, she has been instrumental in managing the IPR Department consisting of specialists in diverse fields including biological (vaccines and biosimilars), pharmaceutical &synthetic chemistry area. She has established a seamless collaboration with Business Development and R&D expanding the horizon of her department beyond traditional IPR, broadening the outlook into portfolio planning, strategizing innovation and through creative participation in collaborations.

In addition, Dr. Andheria actively engages in dialogue with policy makers in an effort to contribute towards the development of a robust and balanced National IP Policy in India.Dr. Andheria is a PhD in Pharmaceutics from ICT (former UDCT, Mumbai) and a post-doctorate from University of Cincinnati, USA.

Here are the excerpts of the exclusive interview with her:

Origiin: It is a great pleasure for us to interact with you and publish your thoughts in this interview.

Dr Mahalaxmi: It is my pleasure too. Thanks for contacting.

Origiin: You have been associated with IP for the last 15 years for some of the most respectable pharmaceutical organizations like Sun Pharma and Panacea Biotec in the core areas of IP. How fulfilling the experience has been?

Dr Mahalaxmi: It has been the most enriching experience for me. I am glad to be in this field of IPR, which is an integral part of Organizations like Sun Pharma and Panacea. IPR is a diverse and very interesting field, especially the area of innovation, protection and enforcement and strategizing early market entry path. It gives an opportunity to collaborate with R&D and Business Development departments and contribute in product development from idea generation until commercialization.

Origiin: What are your thoughts on IP workforce available in the market currently? Are they ready to perform all type of IP tasks such as searches, drafting the application, prosecution and litigation?

Dr Mahalaxmi: Current IP workforce available in market is more competitive, skilled and literate professionals. This can be attributed to early stage education in IPR, on line and post graduate certificate courses in IPR, increased awareness & a competitive environment in this domain. There is opportunity and expertise available in this field to handle patent landscape, patent search, patent drafting and prosecution. However, the expertise in patent challenges, especially invalidation of patents and effective management of patent litigations is still limited and this skill set needs to be developed. IP Valuation and Management is another area that needs better understanding & experts.

Origiin: How important is IP valuation and IP audit for a pharmaceutical company?

Dr Mahalaxmi: IP Valuation and IP Audit are two most important aspects of IP Management for an Innovation based Pharmaceutical Company. Strategic deployment of IP assets enables companies to improve their competitive advantages in the market place. IP valuation is an important tool to analyze company’s intellectual assets related to strategic market valuation and growth projections, gain increased market share, earn high profitability and create high perceived value during licensing and strategic partnerships. IP Audit on other hand help in patent life cycle management, enforcing and defending IP rights, systematic review and associated risk mitigation of the IP assets, which enables earn revenues for the enterprise.

Origiin: The patent policy pursued by India enabled it to become a big international player in the generic drug market. Would you like to say anything with regard to this?

Dr Mahalaxmi: The harmonization process from the beginning of Rajgopala Ayyangar Committee in 1950’s till date, has revised the IP Law to suit the Pharma Industry in India. India discontinued the product patent system and only process patents were allowed with the 1970 patent policy. The outcome was that India emerged as a major player in the International generic drugs market, especially in the area of generic AIDS drugs, wherein India became the most affordable exporter to Africa. India is now known as the ‘Pharmacy of the Developing World’.

This was essential then, during the Industrialization phase, for economic growth. Now for sustaining this growth and for our future, it is important to promote innovations and research & development and I would say that we have now rightly moved on to a more progressive patent policy with the 2005 patent amendment, retaining the right balance of protection and affordability. The next decade growth and development of Indian Pharma Industry will be interesting to watch out for.

Origiin: Indian Pharma industry is in favour of ‘compulsory licensing’ of drugs to improve access of essential medicines to the Third World, which does not go well with the western Pharma world. What is your say with regard to this?

Dr Mahalaxmi: Too much has been written and debated on this most controversial topic of Compulsory License (CL) which opened up a plethora of (unwanted) questioning and criticism on India’s patent policies. I just hope that this does not lead to a cascading reverse outcome for future CL applications in India, a glimpse of which we have already seen in the Dasatinib CL matter. My personal view is that, if used discretely and with proper justification and within the ambit of the governing laws and procedures, then it can be an effective tool for a developing country like India, to foster innovation and to promote generics. It is a flexibility provided under TRIPS so it’s only a question of effectively utilizing it in the right way. I think it just got hammered too much and was given too much attention, which resulted in a negative aura around the word ‘Compulsory License’ in India. It only reminds me of the telling statement made by Justice Prabha Sridevan while upholding India’s first CL Order of Nexavar® that “Compulsory Licensing is Not a Bad Word”.

Origiin: Panacea Biotec known to be one of the largest vaccine manufacturing companies in India. Its Inactivated Polio Vaccine (eIPV) has a great commercial value. How innovation is channelized while designing these drugs for the benefit of the society?

Dr Mahalaxmi: There is no short cut to Innovation. It is a systematic and focused approach with an objective of developing safe, effective, affordable and sustainable products, for example Vaccines in this case, for the benefits of society. At Panacea, innovation is inbuilt. It is the focus and essence of our business. Our vaccine research is channelized towards helping people in the developing world to fight the diseases of importance with high quality and cost effective vaccines developed through in–house proprietary research, state of the art research facilities and ultra-modern techniques and scientific skill sets. In certain projects we operate through technology licensing and joint venture partnership routes. It goes without saying that all of these meet the requirements of National Regulatory Authorities and WHO Guidelines. Early consultation and collaboration with policy makers in developing countries help us to identify and develop essential vaccines which meet the requirements of quality, safety and affordability. Vaccine design, quality development and availability at reasonable price are our core areas.

Origiin: What is your take on recent rise in patent settlement cases in India?

Dr Mahalaxmi: Patent settlement and pay-for-delay tactics are major causes of concern in the US Pharma scenario, effectively blocking generic drug competition and availability of low-cost medicine to the public. Unfortunately, such a trend is emerging in India too. There could be some relief though as the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has taken this seriously and have issued notices to some of the companies who have chosen this path. CCI should ensure that patient access to critical drugs is not compromised and take necessary actions to stop such practices to delay launch of low cost generics in case of settlement. Additionally, such out of court settlements leave the validity issues of patents undecided midway. Hence patent settlements should be well scrutinized by relevant authorities.

Origiin: Would you like to give any advice to young aspirants trying to carve a niche for themselves in IPR?

Dr Mahalaxmi: IPR is a very interesting field. It requires specialized skill set and will keep you stimulated and motivated all the while. Develop both technical and legal skills by enrolling to requisite degrees courses. This field requires a lot of reading, searching skills, analytical mind, and a whole load of patience. Once you master it, it’s very fulfilling and enriching, and it gives immense satisfaction to be part of the team which is responsible for innovation and revenue generation for a company. Definitely, there is scope and good future in this filed.

Origiin: Thank you so much, for your valuable inputs and your time spared for Origiin. I am sure our readers will thoroughly enjoy it. Wish you best wishes for all your future endeavours.

Innovative product

My Air- A wearable gadget that empowers you to set your personal preferred “air envelop”.

If you really want to know the quality of the air that you inhale and control the environment where you breathe in then, this is the product, named “My Air” where your search ends.

My Air- a wearable gadget that helps you know the essential properties of inhaled air such as temperature, humidity, level of pollution and CO2 levels. Based on the alerts produced from this gadget, one can maintain a healthy life style by balancing and changing the environment. Such a device is a boon when we look into the number of fatal death occurs due to respiratory illness. As per the report of WHO, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is one of the leading causes of death. As we know it is the quality of the inhaled air that impacts our health, so it is extremely important that we should be aware of what we breathe. Sometimes, there are known specific places and environments that are hostile and not suitable for health.This gadget will help to set the preferred envelope of air. The device interacts through a user friendly App which enables us to see the data on Smartphone. Once the preferable limit of all the parameter is set, an alert will be seen on the home screen, whenever there is any deviation from the optimum range, thereby one can take the control of the environment.

So this smart product, which simply empowers us to pro-actively plan what is best for us and our family in terms of inhaled air is surely an innovative product.

For more information please visit their websitne:http:m/paqs.biz/

Interesting patent

Title of the invention: TV mute finger ring

Publication number:      US20030206393 A1

Publication type:           Application

Application number:      US 10/138,828

Publication date:          6 Nov 2003

Filing date:                  6 May 2002

Inventors:                    William Murray

ABSTRACT: TV Mute Finger Ring with a hollow C shaped finger ring housing. The housing contains the standard electronics and IR transmitting LED associated with activating the mute function of a standard TV. The housing also contains a battery type electrical power source. The C shaped ring housing has a loop type fastener strip attached to one end of the C shape and a hook type fastening panel affixed to the opposite end of the C shape so that said loop type fastener can removably attach to said hook fastener thereby forming a full ring that can be worn on the user’s forefinger. The C shaped housing contains a momentary on-off switch and attached outwardly accessible switch cover located in a position where the user’s thumb can easily reach said switch cover. The IR transmitter is covered by a transparent plastic lens that is flush with the outer surface of said C shaped housing. The plastic lens is positioned so that said lens and said IR transmitting LED are pointed outwardly in the general direction of said TV.