A similar agreement was reached in March between the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Chinese National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical & Biological Products (NICPBP), which helped extend the US organisation’s influence into a key country in the supply chain.
The globalisation of the supply chain means that to protect US citizens from unsafe medicines the USP must reach beyond its home territory and raise standards in other nations.
Consequently the memorandum of understanding with the NICPBP has been followed by a similar agreement with Roszdravnadzor, which is a Russian governmental body that monitors medicines and medical supplies.
Roger Williams, CEO of USP, said: “Through a number of potential activities detailed in this agreement, Roszdravnadzor and USP will work to improve the quality of medicines that patients receive in Russia and the United States. This includes reducing the availability of counterfeit and substandard medicines, which pose a substantial threat to citizens of both countries and globally.”
Currently the organisations have identified four possible areas of collaboration: utilisation of the first Russian translation of the USP–National Formulary (USP–NF), working relationships, reference materials and third-party certification.
The first step of this will commence when the translated USP-NF is launched at the XVI Russian Man and Drug National Congress.
Further collaborations may include exchange of scientific staff and the : “Establishment of programs that allow review, testing and auditing of manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients available in either the United States or the Russian markets will be considered.”