The IPLAC Creator of the Year Award is given to honor the creative achievements, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area, that are eligible for patent, copyright, or trademark protection. This year, IPLAC is proud to recognize Dr. Anita Mehta as the winner of the 2021 IPLAC Creator of the Year Award, for her achievements in the area of patents.
Dr. Anita Mehta’s Key Achievements
Dr. Mehta is the Founder and CEO of Chicago Discovery Solutions (CDS) which is a Chicago area based, woman-owned company.
Her work involves design of new active ruthenium metal catalysts for green and sustainable chemistry. She is an inventor/co-inventor in 24 issued U.S. patents, and several pending applications. Dr. Mehta has successfully led a team of researchers in discovering three small drug molecules as well as conducting clinical trials for the drug candidates. She designed and developed an improved formulation of anti-scarring agent (Avosil). Her invention was approved by the FDA, and Avosil is currently sold by pharmacies throughout USA as an anti-scarring ointment.
Dr. Mehta’s research interests have recently focused on the invention and commercialization of a recyclable ruthenium-containing catalyst, “MCAT-53” by Chicago Discovery Solutions. This catalyst take Green Chemistry to a new level by coupling carbon-carbon bonds without the use of acids, solvents, oxidants, or ligands. This compound is listed in chemistry catalogs (for example – Sigma Aldrich, Catalog No. 900285).
Dr. Mehta was also nominated for the prestigious American Chemical Society’s H.C. Brown Award. The award recognizes outstanding and creative contributions to research in synthetic methods. (The first recipient of the award was Dr. Brown, a Nobel laureate.)
Dr. Anita Mehta’s Impact on the Local Community
Chicago Discovery Solutions has provided employment to Chicago area chemists for the research and Development of new and sustainable catalysts.
Dr. Mehta has shown strong community engagement, with a goal of encouraging young women in following STEM career paths. To that end, CDS has provided hands-on research opportunities for high school and community college chemistry students in Plainfield, Illinois since 2012. The experience has helped students connect classroom lectures with real-life experiences as a scientist. Dr. Mehta’s vision for CDS is to find sustainable solutions for a greener environment. As a Chicago-area-based company known for finding environmentally friendly solutions, scientists of CDS were invited to present at American Industrial Hygiene Association AIHA-Chicago section meeting on how Green Chemistry alternatives can make the work place safer for workers in Chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Highlights of Dr. Anita Mehta’s Inventions
- U.S. Patent Nos. 6,083,950; 6,090,809; 6,410,735; 6,420,366; and 6,420,559 – the synthesis of aryl piperazines resulted into a molecule Pamirosin which was used for the treatment of B.P.H. in Clinical Phase II (U.K. and in India).
- Ranbezolid, covered in the U.S. Patent No. 6,734,307 was useful for the treatment of bacterial infection in Clinical Phase I.
- One molecule RBx 9841 for the treatment of urinary incontinence to clinical Phase I is covered in U.S. Patent No. 6,734,307.
- Formulation of marketed anti-scar drug Avosil (Avocet Polymer Technologies, a Chicago based company).
- Commercialization of sustainable (green) ruthenium catalyst MCAT-53 is covered in U.S. Patent No. 10,300,471. MCAT-53 was commercially launched by Chicago Discovery Solutions LLC – a Chicago based company.
Full list of patents held by Dr. Anita Mehta:
U.S. Patent No. 10,300,471 (Ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of biaryl compounds in water)
U.S. Patent No. 8,277,328 (Electromuscular incapacitation device and methods)
U.S. Patent No. 7,736,237 (Electromuscular incapacitation device and methods)
U.S. Patent No. 7,592,359 (Substituted azabicyclo hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,560,479 (3,6-Disubstituted azabicyclo hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,544,708 (Azabicyclo derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,517,905 (Substituted azabicyclo hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,501,443 (Flavaxate derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,488,748 (3,6-Disubstituted azabicyclo hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,465,751 (1-substituted-3-pyrrolidine derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,446,123 (Azabicyclo derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,410,993 (3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane deriviatives useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,399,779 (3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane derivatives useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,288,562 (Fluoro and sulphonylamino containing 3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo (3.1.0) hexane derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,265,147 (3,6-disubstituted azabicyclo [3.1.0]hexane derivatives useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 7,232,835 (3,6-Disubstituted azabicyclo derivatives as muscarinic receptor antagonists)
U.S. Patent No. 6,956,040 (Oxazolidinone piperazinyl derivatives as potential antimicrobials)
U.S. Patent No. 6,812,344 (1-(4-Arylpiperazin-1-yl)-.omega.-[N-(.alpha.,.omega.-dicarboximidoL)]-alkanes useful as uro-selective .alpha.1-adrenoceptor blockers)
U.S. Patent No. 6,734,307 (Oxazolidinone derivatives as antimicrobials)
U.S. Patent No. 6,420,559 (1-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-.omega.-[N-(.alpha.,.omega.-dicarboximido)]-alkane s useful as uro-selective .alpha.1-adrenoceptor blockers)
U.S. Patent No. 6,420,366 (1-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-.omega.-[N-(.alpha..omega.-dicarboximido)]-alkanes useful as uro-selective .alpha.1-adrenoceptor blockers)
U.S. Patent No. 6,410,735 (1-(4-arylpiperazin-1-y1)-.omega.-[N-(.alpha.,.omega.-dicarboximido)]-alkane s useful as uro-selective .alpha.1-adrenoceptor blockers)
U.S. Patent No. 6,090,809 (1-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-.omega.-[n-(.alpha… omega.-dicarboximido)]-alkanes useful as uro-selective .alpha..sub.1 -adrenoceptor blockers)
U.S. Patent No. 6,083,950 (1-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-.omega.-[n-(.alpha.,.omega.-dicarboximido)]-alkanes useful as uro-selective .alpha.1-adrenoceptor blockers)