Meet the Expert: Alpa Jani, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Teva Canada

One might think that after 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry at Teva Canada, Alpa Jani has earned the right to rest on a few of her laurels. But from the beginning, she has abided by a simple principle: never stop learning and developing. Here, she traces her journey from eager co-op student to expert strategist and leader in the regulatory field. “Impacting patients’ lives with access to Teva’s quality medicines is fulfilling,” says Alpa. “I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

I began my career at Teva Canada in the R&D department as an analytical chemist co-op and was hired full-time after graduation. From the start, I found myself fascinated by the regulatory side of the industry. Even then, I liked the way that regulatory gives you an end-to-end view of product development, from conception to approval, launch and life cycle. After two years in R&D at Teva, I was fortunate enough to get a position in Regulatory Affairs and have been growing within the company since, to my current role as the leader of a regulatory team. Teva Canada certainly provided me with growth opportunities, which included support from managers that believed in me.

As a director, my day-to-day role is developing and implementing regulatory strategy to support new drug product approvals, and to bring them to market. I am very fortunate to have a strong, dynamic team that is always willing to take on more complex projects. My job allows me to work with brilliant, diverse teams across Teva globally. I think it is important to enjoy what you do, and for me, that means working in an area that combines my interest in science with my desire to do something meaningful. Regulatory is the perfect field for me: my colleagues and I always joke that there is never a dull moment, as science, innovation and regulations evolve over time.

I am so proud of what our team has accomplished over the years. I am proud of the work Teva Canada has done with Health Canada through industry associations to provide input on various scientific issues related to the approval of generic drug products. I am also very proud of our team’s success in complex generics. There have been quite a few instances where Teva Canada was the first company to receive approval for and launch complex generic drugs, all due to Teva’s global strength, which we can all be proud of.

In my off-work hours, I enjoy activities that support my growth and learning. For example, I love to travel. Having lived in many different parts of the world, I believe travel opens our eyes to different cultures and mindsets, which expands our adaptability. Giving back is also important, and I support a few charities, some of which are dedicated to helping women locally and in underprivileged countries. Family is very important to me, and I love spending time with my adult daughters, which brings some interesting discussions from their perspective. These are also values that Teva embodies, whether it is giving back or embracing workplace inclusion and diversity.

My advice to people, especially women, looking to enter the regulatory field is to gain experience. Of course, first you will need your science credentials. It is also very important to find a good placement where you can get hands-on experience. You can learn all the regulations and read all the guidelines, but only experience will let you truly see their relevance.

Also, show your value. Leaders look for passion and willingness to work, so take on extra projects and show that you are keen to explore new opportunities. Volunteer with industry associations to build your network, and get a good mentor. And, most importantly, don’t doubt yourself.

NPS-CA-NP-00856, 05/2024