"In the last two years what I've seen happening in research and development at Allergan has been pretty remarkable. This is an exciting time for the company"
The past two years have also been exciting for Raman. During this time, he, along with his supervisor, set up what is now called the Allergan Pharmaceutical Development Center in Bangalore, India, where he is responsible for all Allergan global research and development activities occurring in the country.
Raman's story embodies the tremendous growth opportunities available to Allergan employees. When Raman joined the company in 2003, he initially held a broader role, and was responsible for managing regulatory affairs, clinical research, and medical affairs. Then, in 2006, Allergan asked Raman if he would be interested in focusing purely on research and development to build the capability in India. Raman agreed to this proposal, and along with his supervisor, developed a white paper describing the research and development possibilities in India. Allergan responded to his good strategic thinking by establishing the Allergan Pharmaceutical Development Center (India), the company's third largest center outside of the United States. One year later, as head of clinical research, Raman oversees 20 people, including 15 employees focused in clinical research and data management and five contractors who help manage the support functions of the Center.
A physician by training, in 1996 Raman began his career in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus in clinical research and medical affairs. He was instrumental in setting up a previous employer's clinical research function as well as its development of continuing medical education activities (CME) in Africa along with his other roles. However, six years after starting in the industry, Raman began looking for fresh challenges. Around the same time, Allergan opened offices in India and within a brief period established an excellent reputation in the market, making it an attractive career option for Raman.
There is little doubt that Raman is happy with his decision to join the company. Besides the professional opportunities it offers, Raman finds great meaning in his work. Conducting clinical research gives Raman a first-hand perspective on the impact of Allergan's products on the lives of patients. He also feels good to be with a company that has a strong reputation for quality, stating that physicians have shared with him that they trust Allergan's products because of this commitment. He also is very impressed by his colleagues, who he calls creative and approachable and feels Allergan is a "human" company, one that shows tremendous respect for individuals and recognizes their contributions.
"Allergan is not a big ocean where it's possible to get lost, but yet we are not so small that we don't make an impact," says Raman. "We are just the right size."