Tag Archives: Catalent

Ronak Savla, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Scientific Affairs Manager, Catalent Pharma Solutions

ronak-savlaRonak Savla is the Scientific Affairs Manager at Catalent Pharma Solutions and the Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute. He earned his Pharm.D. and Ph.D. from Rutgers University. His current research interests include the application of in silico models and simulations to aid in drug formulation design, integration of novel formulation technologies into the industry, and patient centric drug design. Dr. Savla is an author or co-author on over 35 publications including peer reviewed papers, articles, conference proceedings, and posters.

1. What was your inspiration to get into the industry?

I love the combination of the cutting edge science and the collaborative work environment. I have always been fascinated how taking a medicine can treat and cure diseases. Fundamentally, disease is a biological challenge. I became interested in pharmaceutics because it is an interdisciplinary field. We use chemistry backed a physics foundation to solve a biological problem Being in industry, I get to work with different teams and a variety of projects. There’s never a dull moment.     

2. What is your favourite part of presenting to a live audience?

I believe that in order to truly understand a concept, you have to be able to teach it to someone else. There are numerous ways to do this. However, there’s a certain excitement in presenting to a live audience. It’s not one-sided, you can gauge your performance in real time, adjust your approach, and interact with the audience.

3. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

A couple years after insulin was discovered, scientists began trying to delivery by routes other than by injection. Almost a hundred years later, we only have a handful of successful examples of peptides delivered by non-invasive routes. I want the audience to understand that solving this challenge requires understanding the fundamentals of what we’re trying to accomplish, approaching the problem from multiple angles, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

4. Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

New York City is my favorite place. It has a vibrant environment. There are always things to do and new places to explore. There are very few, if any, cities that compare to New York’s cultural diversity. 

Join Ronak in the Catalent webinar ‘Overcoming Barriers to Non-invasive Delivery of Macromolecules‘. Register now!

Catalent Microsite: Resources for Solving Drug Delivery, Clinical Supply and Biologic Challenges

Catalent has recently launched their newCatalent_Image microsite within Business Review Webinars.

The site features recent Webinars, Videos and Case Studies detailing research across the full spectrum of challenges that pharmaceutical companies face with their pipeline molecules. Catalent is focused on helping their customers get more molecules to market by enhancing product performance and providing superior, reliable manufacturing results.

To learn more, please click here to be brought directly to the microsite.

Christer Johansson, CEO/Owner, BiQ Pharma and AQPS Academy of Quality in Pharm Science

Christer JohanssonMr. Johansson has over 40 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry and currently serves as the CEO/owner of BiQ Pharms and AQPS Academy of Quality in Pharm Science. Mr. Johansson also worked at Biotechvalley AB as the CEO and a senior consultant, quality director at Pfizer, Fresenius Kabi, Pharmacia, and the head of analytical laboratory at Astra. Mr. Johansson received his Master of Science in chemistry from KTH Royal Institute of Technologhy in 1980 and his MBA from Uppsala University in 2000.

1. Catalent are a loyal customer of ours and have delivered an extensive number of webinars with us; can you tell us what you have learnt from running this webinar?

Start planning with BRW as early as possible and touch base regularly to make sure there is flawless execution. Better understand your targeting audience and select the right timing, title and content.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

 To speed up the efficacy and time to market I see the necessity to  make an early and coordinated start of the formulation of candidates parallel with preclinical and clinical testing. I’ll  emphasize the need of setting target profiles and built in quality in every step in a project. Project planning and coordination of the  specialized companies involved ,towards the set targets are essential to reach success and reaching project objectives.

3. If you could only ever listen to one song forever, what song would it be?

This is not an easy question but something with Deep Purple for example – Smoke on the water!

4. If you had to live in a TV show for a month, which would you choose?

If there is a TV-show on an old sailing ship over the Atlantic otherwise something with a connection to  nature (walking and talking).

5. What would you like to achieve in the future?

I want to play a role in the Swedish pharmaceutical landscape to make the national pharma industry more international competitive. 

Christer will be presenting Catalent’s webinar ‘Early Technology Selection for Optimized Drug Development‘ with Dr. Janet Hoogstraate, Director Biovation Park, Acturum Life Science AB and Julien Meissonnier, Director of R&D, Catalent Pharma Solutions. You can register for their webinar taking place on the 23rd March at 11am New York/3pm London here.

 

Dr. Janet Hoogstraate, Director Biovation Park, Acturum Life Science AB

Janet Hoogstraate

Janet Hoogstraate obtained her PhD from Leiden University in the Netherlands in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and an executive MBA from Hult International Business School in London, UK. She is associate professor at the Department of Pharmaceutics at Uppsala University. During her research career she has worked at the University of Utah, University of Iowa and in various positions at AstraZeneca R&D. As the director of DMPK in AstraZeneca she headed a group of 63 scientists working in the entire value chain of pain and neurology drug development projects. 

She is co-author of more than 45 papers and book chapters. Currently, Janet holds the position of director of Biovation Park at Acturum Life Science AB building a business and science park and incubator in Södertälje for life science companies and academic groups. She also hold various board positions such as chairman of the board of the Stockholm Brain Institute.

1. Catalent are a loyal customer of ours and have delivered an extensive number of webinars with us; can you tell us what you have learnt from running this webinar?

Start planning with BRW as early as possible and touch base regularly to make sure there is flawless execution. Better understand your targeting audience and select the right timing, title and content.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

Drug development is challenging in many aspects. Often scientists focus on strong pharmacology in the discovery phase and less on delivering the pharmacology to the right target in the body in on optimal time and concentration profile. That leaves a big hurdle to overcome in early development. Selecting technologies and planning your development early yet in a flexible way can provide a smoother way though drug development.  

3. If you could only ever listen to one song forever, what song would it be?

With music now so easily and abundantly available I don’t want to think about listening to only one song! But one I can listen to over and over again is Personal Jesus by Depeche mode, especially in a live version.

4. If you had to live in a TV show for a month, which would you choose?

I would love to be part of an expedition or a travel program. Spending time in a different country getting to now both the culture and exploring the nature would definitively be an good way to spend a month.

5. What would you like to achieve in the future?

My professional ambitions are to revitalize life science by connecting small companies and researchers and finding ways to deliver new treatments to patients by new constellations and smart processes. Outside professional life, I would like to advance my off-piste skiing skills. 

Janet will be presenting Catalent’s webinar ‘Early Technology Selection for Optimized Drug Development‘ with Christer Johansson, CEO/Owner, BiQ Pharma and AQPS Academy of Quality in Pharm Science and Julien Meissonnier, Director of R&D, Catalent Pharma Solutions. You can register for their webinar taking place on the 23rd March at 11am New York/3pm London here.

 

Stephen Tindal, Director, Formulation and Site R&D Lead, Catalent

Stephen TindalStephen holds a bachelors degree in Chemistry and Analytical Science from Loughborough University, UK. He has worked in softgel R&D for 27 years and has broad expertise in the technology. Stephen specializes in root cause investigation, technology innovation, gelatin innovation, customer liason and supporting business development. Stephen is part of Catalent’s R&D Team at the Company Headquarters in Somerset, New Jersey.

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with us?

Catalent is a big company with a wide range of capabilities.  It may be difficult for people to truly understand our capabilities based on published information.  It’s important when describing enabling technologies to get into more detail.  This is the only way to match a technology to a specific need.

2. How do you prepare yourself when presenting to a live audience?

I like to make sure I fully understand the message I’m trying to deliver.  I feel more relaxed if I know the subject really well.

3. What are some of the best moments of your career?

The best moment was when I found what I was good at and realized I wanted to do it forever.

4. If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?

Flying.  Just for the thrill.

5. What is your favourite flavour of ice-cream?

Vanilla

You can register now for Catalent’s webinar ‘ Optimize Your Oral Drug Development Pathway – Faster to Market’ taking place on the 30th October at 11am  New York/3pm London.