USP keen to be part in govt-funded projects

Following the expansion of its research facility in Hyderabad at a cost of $25 million last year, the US Pharmacopeia (USP) is now focusing on new initiatives, including exploring public-private-partnership (PPP) opportunities in India.

US Pharmacopeia , a not-for-profit organisation that develops reference standards for drugs being made by pharmaceutical companies, is examining the public-private partnership projects being offered by the Union ministry of chemicals in the areas of establishing drug testing laboratories and chemical testing, according to Srini Srinivasan, executive vice-president of USP. He said that the USP was keen to take part in such initiatives funded by the government.

Terming quality standards as the core issue involving the larger interests of the public, he said the USP was willing to work with companies in India in achieving high standards in making the drugs.

Stating that the biologic products are going to be the future, Srinivasan said about $90 billion worth of biologic pharma products were going off-patent in the next three years, giving a huge opportunity to the generics manufacturers.