Dr Mashelkar on WHO commission on patents

Dr RA Mashelkar, director-general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been appointed the vice-chairman of a commission on Intellectual Property Rights, innovation and public health set up by the World Health Organization (WHO). The commission will examine the data and proposals collected from different players in IPR and public health and work out funding and incentive mechanisms for the creation of new medicines for diseases that affect developing countries. Ruth Dreifuss, the former President of Switzerland, will chair the 10-member commission.

Recently the APIDC Venture Capital Ltd (APIDC-VCL) has inducted Dr R A Mashelkar as chairman on its scientific advisory board. Commenting on his appointment, he said the boom in the biotech industry would provide growth for more start-up companies. To propel their growth, venture capitalists will have to focus and add value to the business through its growth phases.

SR Chowdhury is drugs controller in Bengal

The West Bengal state government has appointed Sajal Roy Chowdhury, a noted pharmacist and former general manager of Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL), as the new director, drugs control, in the Directorate of Drugs Control, Government of West Bengal.

Dr Chowdhury has been associated with the Bengal Chemicals for more than two decades and has played an important role in the turn around of the century old Bengal Chemicals. He succeeds Prof. Krishnangshu Ray.

The government's insistence on appointing a medico for the post was scuttled thrice in the past. The Calcutta High Court had intervened in the matter directing that the appointment be handled by the State Public Service Commission (PSC). This is for the first time in its history that direct appointment was made through the PSC.

Sanjeev Dani to head Ranbaxy India operations

Sanjeev Dani, the head of Delhi hub of Ranbaxy India operations, has now been designated as regional director, Ranbaxy India operations. The vacancy was created after the elder son of late Parvinder Singh, Malvinder Mohan Singh, was inducted into the board and became president–pharmaceuticals. Dani joined Ranbaxy in March 2001 after having worked with Johnson & Johnson in India and China. After a while, he came to head the New Delhi hub of the company's Indian operations.

Besides Dani, there are other changes also at the top level in Ranbaxy. The company has roped in at least four new vice-presidents.

Dr Vijay Batra, earlier with Schering Plough Research Institute USA, has joined Ranbaxy as the vice-president, pharmaceutical development. He will be looking after development of new chemicals entities (NCEs) and new drug delivery research (NDDR).

Among the other significant new additions, Mohan Sharma, director HR (global manufacturing), has joined from Lupin Laboratories after serving there for over 22 years. Ameet Desai, director, mergers and acquisitions, has been elevated as vice-president, mergers and acquisitions and business planning. Ramesh Adige, new vice president designate-corporate affairs, has already been inducted. He is likely to take full charge from May this year. Adige has joined from Fiat India and was executive director there.

Rinti Banerjee receives best paper award at BIMAO'03

Dr Rinti Banerjee, an assistant professor at School of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has received the best paper award for her paper on surfactant nano particles for biomedical applications at the 14th National Biomaterials and Artificial Organs conference BIMAO 2003. A faculty of the biomedical engineering group that works on Biomaterials and Biointerfaces, Dr Banerjee had many awards to her credit including young scientist award from Department of Science and Technology, India and young researcher award from the International Foundation for Science, Sweden.