US Pharmacopoeia has formally established its first site overseas with the incorporation of the United States Pharmacopoeia-India Private Ltd and has appointed Kumud Sampath, former president and executive director of AstraZeneca India (Pvt) Ltd as the general manager. Further, USP India has incorporated Indian Advisory Group (IAG) to assist the organization in addressing national and regional issues related to the establishment of USP-India.
To be located in the ICICI Knowledge Park in Hyderabad, USP India will provide USP's broad range of Pharmacopoeial services to USP customers in India and surrounding countries. The site will include a state-of-the-art laboratory and will involve experienced Indian scientists in the standards-setting activities of USP. The USP-India site will allow USP to work more closely with Indian and regional constituencies, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia and Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers to promote the manufacture of good-quality, safe, and effective medicines and dietary supplement ingredients and products for the US market and elsewhere.
The IAG, which will hold its first meeting in early 2006, will help USP increase awareness on the importance of the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, establish links of cooperation and understanding with the pharmaceutical industry, government, associations and organizations in India, understand the needs of the Indian pharmaceutical industry and Indian population, identify organizations to collaborate on scientific studies and other matters related to USP-India.
The IAG comprises Nitya Anand, Member, Indian Pharmacopeia Commission, Humayun Dhanrajgir, former CEO, GlaxoSmithKline, India, Milind Joshi, Corporate Manager, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Operations, J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited, Swati Piramal, Director, Strategic Alliances, Nicholas Piramal Group, P. Rama Rao, Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Alit Singh, Chairman, ACG Worldwide and N.Vaghul, Chairman, ICICI Bank.
Kumud Sampath was previously president and executive director of AstraZeneca India (Pvt) Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca PLC, UK). Prior to that, she was vice president of business development and operations for Astra Biochemicals Pvt. Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Astra AB, Sweden). She has also been the chair of the South Zonal Export Promotion Council, a member of the Biotechnology Vision Group, Karnataka and a member of the governing board of the Karnataka Biotechnology Development Council.
The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) is a non-profit, non-governmental, standards-setting organization that advances public health and improves patient safety by ensuring good pharmaceutical care. USP standards, recognized worldwide, are developed through a unique process of public involvement by volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other healthcare professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations.