From this new site the USP will assist pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare professionals to ensure the quality and safety of medicines throughout Latin America.
The USP now has five bases around the world, with the São Paulo site following on from the opening of its Chinese and Indian facilities in 2006.
Dr Roger Williams, executive vice president and CEO of the USP, said: “This new site demonstrates USP’s commitment to ensuring the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals for everyone, regardless of geographic, economic or political borders.
“As the world continues to focus on these issues, it is even more important for standards-setting bodies and governments to collaborate. This office and laboratory facility will help USP work with Brazilian regulators and manufacturers to move toward that goal.”
Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry has enjoyed increasing levels of investment from both local and foreign companies. As one of the BRIC nations, the others being Russia, India and China, big pharma has been paying increasing attention to the nation and Latin America as a whole
Novartis is investing $500m in the construction a new vaccine plant in Pernambuco, Brazil, following on from the $100m expansion of its existing facility.
However, the USP’s presence in the region should prove more beneficial to Latin American pharmaceutical companies by helping them adhere to international standards, enabling increased exports.
At present the combined pharmaceutical trade deficit of Latin American countries is $7bn, according to an Espicom Business Intelligence report published in March.
Dr Flavio Vormittag, USP’s vice president, international-Brazil, said: “Our presence will benefit Brazilian manufacturers, government agencies and ultimately patients in Brazil, the US, and the many countries to which Brazil exports.”
Brazil and India increase ties
In addition to the USP establishing itself in the nation, collaboration between India and Brazil will soon see the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) set up in the region.
By collaborating the nations hope to transfer knowledge, skills and technology related to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.
In particular the Brazilian government has stated it will provide incentives to encourage foreign companies to set up operations or partnerships in the country.
This increased collaboration may help ease the pressures on Indian pharmaceutical companies that were created by a 14 per cent rise in Brazilian import tax that was implemented last year.