Headlines: USP's pharmacopeial lab to come up at H'bad, Rs 20 cr investment likely
Source: Pharmabiz website

The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) as part of its proposed India site would set up its pharmacopeial laboratory at Hyderabad. This Indian laboratory will be the first USP-based lab being set up by the US pharmaceutical reference standards agency outside of United States. The USP is expected to spend around Rs 20 crore for the laboratory and around 25 to 30 senior pharmaceutical scientists both from the US and India are likely to be placed at the laboratory.
According to sources in USP, the Indian site of the organization will consist of business operations, laboratory activities and will also offer a broad range of pharmacopeial services of USP. The USP's India site would offer these services to not only the pharma manufactures in India but surrounding countries also, the USP sources said.
The Indian site of USP is being established in view of supporting the activities of Indian and regional constituencies, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia, to promote the manufacture of quality therapeutic products globally. With this regional setup, the organization will work closely with Indian manufacturers as it does with the US and other multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply safe and effective medicines and dietary supplement ingredients and finished products for the US market.

Currently, India is one of the major suppliers of bulk ingredients to the US market. The USP sources said that though the business focus of the Indian site is aimed at the Indian and neighboring markets, it would meet the same high standards like the relevant International Organization of Standards (ISO) certifications etc., as it does in its US facilities. However, it will involve experienced Indian scientists in the standard-setting activities of USP with a focus on the legally marketed off patent medicines in the US market.