The United States Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention, in association with Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is organizing the eighth India Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on February 11 and 12 at the Taj Krishna Hotel in Hyderabad.

The conference will include representatives from Indian pharmaceutical associations, officials from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), IPC and stakeholders from many of the bulk drugs, formulations, biotechnology, vaccines and clinical research industries. A high-level delegation includes eminent scientists and executive management from USP's headquarters in the United States.

The conference theme is 'Public Disclosure-Quality Standards', which expresses USP's mission to improve public health through public standards. The ASM is an opportunity to interact directly with USP scientists, members of its Council of Experts, industry stakeholders, and other opinion leaders.

The ASM provides a forum for interactive discussion and preparedness for new standards (regulatory/non-regulatory), and pharmacopeial directions that affect the pharmaceutical industry. According to Dr K V Surendra Nath, vice president of USP-India, "We believe the deliberations at the ASM will provide an excellent opportunity for attendees from industry, government and associations to get into the specifics of quality standards. We are expecting at least 300 participants at this important conference."

The conference will have three main tracks: Drug Substances; Drug Product Manufacturing and Control and Biologics and Biotechnology. These tracks will run in parallel with different topics both days. In addition, there will be General Sessions each day, and two special tracks covering Reference Standards and Metal Impurities.