MOHAMMED RAFIQUE PATEL
Durban North
Summary
Experienced Pharma strategist with extensive knowledge of the Pharma/Biotechnology landscape in South Africa, the SADC region, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Specialized in regulatory requirements, Market Access, and Health Economics & Outcomes Research (H.E.O.R). Skilled at overcoming complex market entry barriers. Dedicated to advancing R&D programs for life-enhancing molecules and enhancing patient outcomes. Committed to advocating for increased access to life-saving medicines and nutrition in under-resourced economies. Seeking opportunities, either remote or on-site, to apply expertise in Pharma/Biotech strategies and contribute to impactful healthcare solutions.
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder MR - CP Consulting and Advisory Services
Executive Director of MR - CP Consulting and Advisory Services
02.2025 - Current
- Established strategic partnerships with companies to boost joint initiatives.
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by addressing client concerns promptly and effectively resolving issues.
- Led the strategic planning process to define business goals and ensure alignment across all departments.
- Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations while maintaining ethical business practices at all times.
- Expanded the company''s geographical reach, opening new markets and increasing profitability.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with suppliers, reducing costs while maintaining product quality.
- Developed strong partnerships with key industry players, contributing to an increased market presence.
- Achieved long-term sustainability for the organization through responsible decision-making processes grounded in ethics.
- Implemented efficient operational processes to optimize productivity and resource allocation.
- Increased brand visibility and market penetration by developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies.
- Led company through successful rebranding effort, refreshing brand image to appeal to broader audience.
- Drove revenue growth with targeted sales initiatives, understanding and leveraging market trends effectively.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction, providing exceptional service and promptly addressing inquiries and concerns.
- Navigated company through regulatory landscapes, ensuring compliance with all industry standards and laws.
- Solidified company's competitive position, conducting comprehensive market analysis and adjusting strategies accordingly.
- Expanded company's footprint internationally by identifying and capitalizing on emerging market opportunities.
- Negotiated partnerships with suppliers to reduce costs, enhancing profitability with strategic sourcing.
- Fostered culture of innovation, leading to development of groundbreaking products that captured new market segments.
- Bolstered company reputation and trust by maintaining high ethical standards and transparency in all dealings.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors and strategic partners.
- Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
- Developed innovative sales and marketing strategies to facilitate business expansion.
- Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimize business performance.
- Analyzed industry trends and tracked competitor activities to inform decision making.
- Formulated and executed strategic initiatives to improve product offerings.
- Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and capabilities.
- Represented organization at industry conferences and events.
- Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.
- Communicated business performance, forecasts and strategies to investors and shareholders.
- Devised and presented business plans and forecasts to board of directors.
Market Access Consultant
ASCENDIS PHARMA
02.2015 - Current
- Led cross-functional teams of scientists and engineers to deliver multiple drug development projects, from early stages to regulatory submissions, helping to significantly reduce time-to-market.
- Developed and implemented quality control protocols that improved overall compliance with FDA regulations, leading to fewer product deviations and higher operational efficiency.
- Managed budgets for clinical trials, working closely with vendors to reduce costs while ensuring all project timelines and deliverables were met.
- Authored and submitted key regulatory documents, including NDAs and INDs, which resulted in successful approvals from both FDA and EMA within the required timelines.
- Collaborated with R&D teams to optimize drug formulations, enhancing and improving patient outcomes in clinical trials.
Pharma Access and Strategy Consultant to Industry
ISIS PHARMA CONSULTING SA & SSA
03.2007 - Current
- Created and implemented tailored market access strategies that helped products successfully launch by navigating payer landscapes, pricing challenges, and reimbursement processes.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams (commercial, medical, and regulatory) to align market access initiatives with company goals, ensuring smooth execution and compliance.
- Performed in-depth health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) to demonstrate product value and support access strategies, which influenced key payer negotiations and policy decisions.
- Engaged with stakeholders and advisory boards, including key opinion leaders (KOLs), payers, and government representatives, to shape market access conditions and improve product uptake.
- Stayed ahead of global market trends and access policies, offering strategic insights that helped optimize product portfolios and guide long-term growth plans.
Non-Executive Director
National Bioproducts Institute
03.2013 - 09.2019
- Actively contributed to the Ethics, Audit & Risk, and Remuneration Committees, guiding the organization in line with King IV standards and supporting governance practices beyond South Africa.
- Offered strategic direction on global business development efforts, helping to identify and seize growth opportunities in new and emerging markets.
- Played a key role in overseeing risk management and audit processes, ensuring that financial reporting is accurate and transparent, and supporting effective risk mitigation.
- Helped shape fair and competitive compensation policies that align with the company's goals, motivating leadership to achieve long-term success, and drive shareholder value.
- Promoted a strong ethical culture within the organization, ensuring that all business practices meet high standards of integrity and compliance with relevant regulations.
Interim Country Manager
Alliance Pharmaceuticals UK
02.2013 - 11.2013
- Directed the global divestment of Synotromine, taking charge of the entire process to find a South African distributor who was eager to drive new business and explore joint ventures across the SADC and SSA regions.
- Handled all the legal, regulatory, and technical agreements with precision and within tight deadlines, ensuring everything was compliant with the company goals.
- Successfully signed a Key Distribution Agreement on October 2, 2013, showcasing strong contract management and collaboration skills.
- Led bimonthly update meetings with teams in the UK and Basel, keeping everyone informed and aligned with the latest developments and strategic direction.
- Worked closely with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth execution of the divestment strategy, boosting operational efficiency and fostering growth in new markets.
Market Access Consultant
Eli Lilly
08.2009 - 07.2010
- Developed and executed market access strategies for pharmaceutical and biotech products, focusing on Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements and public health initiatives within Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Established and nurtured relationships with key governmental and regulatory bodies to facilitate smoother product approval processes and market entry in target regions.
- Conducted comprehensive market analysis to identify opportunities, assess market barriers, and devise strategies tailored to local government policies and healthcare systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Led cross-functional teams to design and implement market access plans, leveraging insights from governmental policies, health economics, and market trends to optimize product positioning and reimbursement.
- Monitored and evaluated policy changes and health reforms within Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring alignment of market access strategies with evolving government regulations and healthcare priorities.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR -ACADEMIA & GOVT.RELATIONS
Pfizer
01.1980 - 03.2008
- Led teams of up to 8 direct reports, supervising daily performance, training, and improvement plans.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging staff to share innovative ideas and providing resources for professional development.
- Prioritized tasks and allocated resources appropriately to keep teams focused and productive.
- Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
Senior Sales Representative
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
02.1978 - 03.2007
- Exceeded sales targets by up to 30% by understanding and meeting clients' unique needs, whether working remotely or face-to-face.
- Implemented tailored sales strategies, enhancing client connections and expanding our market reach both online and in person.
- Built lasting relationships with key decision-makers, which boosted repeat business and secured long-term partnerships.
- Used market data to spot trends and customer preferences, leading to the successful launch of new products that truly resonated with clients.
- Delivered engaging virtual and on-site presentations and demos, ensuring clients felt heard and well-informed throughout the sales process.
Education
Associate Of Applied Business (M.I.M.M) - Marketing And Finance
Institute of Marketing Management of SA
Durban 11.1988
POST GRAD CERTIFICATE - International Society of Business Leaders
University of Leicester
UK06.2016
Matric, BSc. - Human Physiology (UCD) Salisbury Island
University of The Witwatersrand
Johannesburg 12.1974
M.I.M.M. - Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Wits Business School) Transformational Leadership and Change Management
Institute of Marketing Management
Skills
- Pharma/Biotech Market Access Strategies
- Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
- Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
- Market Entry Barrier Analysis
- Pharmaceutical R&D and Innovation
- Strategic Market Analysis and Forecasting
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Global and Regional Pharma Regulations
- Life Sciences Industry Trends and Insights
- Stakeholder Engagement and Management
- Access Strategies for Emerging Markets
- Clinical Trial Design and Management
Certification
- Situational Leadership - New York 1998 - Pfizer Global Training & Development
- Train the Trainer workshop - 1999 - Dubai UAE
- 8-Step Coaching - 2000 -Dubai UAE
- Pfizer Global Sales and Marketing Managers Training & Development - Orlando USA 2001
- Good Clinical Practice Training (GCP) Turkey 2002
- Management of HIV in the workplace. 2002
- Pfizer SA- Strategic Workshop (In-House)
- H.E.O.R Training Turkey June 2003
- SETA - Workplace competency-based assessment Workshop - Pfizer SA 2003
- Myers Briggs Leadership Evaluation and Business Profile (Wits Business School) 2005
- A patient advocate of the SA Rare Disease Foundation (NORD)
- Global Leadership & Effectiveness Program for Senior Leaders (GLE) Pfizer NY June 2003 (In House)
- Inducted into the Who's Who Directory Lifetime Membership for Professionals, Executives, and Entrepreneurs - Worldwide Branding. 2015.
- Council Member of Pharma Experts - Gehrson Lehmann Inc - Austin Texas. (Consultant)
- Council Member of Pharma Experts - Atheneum Inc - Berlin Germany. (Consultant)
- Member of the International Society of Business Leaders (ISOBL)
- Council Member Pharma Expert @ SAI Med Partners LLC -London -UK (HQ in Pennsylvania (USA)
- Council Member Pharma Expert @ INFOLLION -Hyderabad -India.
- Advisor/Consultant @ Pengo Insights Africa - Pharma / Biotech
- CRICE CAMS-Certified
References
John, Embling, Regional Director, john.embling@virbac.co.za, 012-657 6050, 083 326 6853, VIRBAC SANZAR Region, Sydney, Australia
Timeline
Founder MR - CP Consulting and Advisory Services
Executive Director of MR - CP Consulting and Advisory Services
02.2025 - Current
Market Access Consultant
ASCENDIS PHARMA
02.2015 - Current
Non-Executive Director
National Bioproducts Institute
03.2013 - 09.2019
Interim Country Manager
Alliance Pharmaceuticals UK
02.2013 - 11.2013
Market Access Consultant
Eli Lilly
08.2009 - 07.2010
Pharma Access and Strategy Consultant to Industry
ISIS PHARMA CONSULTING SA & SSA
03.2007 - Current
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR -ACADEMIA & GOVT.RELATIONS
Pfizer
01.1980 - 03.2008
Senior Sales Representative
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
02.1978 - 03.2007
M.I.M.M. - Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Wits Business School) Transformational Leadership and Change Management
Institute of Marketing Management
Associate Of Applied Business (M.I.M.M) - Marketing And Finance
Institute of Marketing Management of SA
POST GRAD CERTIFICATE - International Society of Business Leaders
University of Leicester
Matric, BSc. - Human Physiology (UCD) Salisbury Island
University of The Witwatersrand
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Collaborated with a team of 13 in the development of t.
- Collaborated with a team of 13 in the development of PROJECT TAP (TAPPING AFRICA'S POTENTIAL).
- Achieved POSITIVE outcomes by completing all SLA`S with accuracy and efficiency.
- Supervised team of 13 COLLEAGUES AND PEERS
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Additional Information
I have well-honed leadership and communication skills. I place great emphasis on integrity, empathy, teamwork, and performance. Have extensive experience in working with cross-functional teams to share ideas and resolve barriers to market entry in congruence with the country's Regulatory requirements.
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