USP and FEUM agrees to collaborate on the development of standards for medicines

Demonstrating a significant commitment to advancing the quality of medicines for patients on behalf of both countries, the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention and the Permanent Commission of the Pharmacopeia of the United Mexican States (FEUM) today agreed to collaborate on the development of standards for medicines. These standards are a key component of public health, helping to ensure the identity, quality, purity, strength and consistency of medicines that patients rely on every day.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed in Mexico City by Roger L. Williams, M.D., USP chief executive officer, and Pedro D. Casta-eda Lopez, executive member of FEUM, specifies a number of areas of collaboration, including revising, updating and integrating monographs for medicines contained in both pharmacopeias; exchanging scientific and technical information through meetings, courses and conferences; and establishing joint reference materials, which are physical samples that ensure compliance to written pharmacopeial standards. A joint work group will be formed to develop priorities within the next month.

"International cooperation is critical to assuring the quality of medicines, particularly in the global manufacturing environment in which they are now produced," said Dr. Williams. "The importance of such an activity should not be understated, as patients deserve access to quality medicines that are pure, are of the appropriate and expected strength, and are consistent from one dose to the next-regardless of where they live or where the medicines and their ingredients they take were manufactured. We look forward to expanding the scope of our work with FEUM through this Memorandum of Understanding."

"FEUM is very pleased to engage in this important partnership with USP," said Mr. Casta-eda Lopez. "This agreement is another milestone in our relationship, which affects patients in Mexico, the United States and worldwide. We look forward to our future work on scientific and technical matters that contribute to quality medicines for all."

The agreement expands on activities in a previous MOU signed between USP and FEUM in October 1999.