Finally, the Council of Experts endorsed and USP's Board of Trustees has approved an initiative titled Standards for Articles
Legally Marketed Outside the US (SALMOUS). Under this program, USP will develop monographs for medicines legally marketed
outside the United States to treat neglected diseases such as malaria (7), provided that such medicine has been approved and
is legally marketed in a country with a stringent regulatory authority. These monographs will be posted on USP's Web site
(first in draft for public comment and then in final form), but they will not appear in USP–NF.
Line extensions
USP continues to make information available to a wide variety of constituents in user-friendly formats. For example, USP is
undertaking a major redesign and simplification of the format of monographs (8), and USP–NF will soon be offered in three volumes to accommodate the increasing content. USP already has launched two new publications
and is planning others:
-
USP Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia (launched in 2005);
-
USP–NF Spanish Edition (launched in 2005);
-
USP Veterinary Compendium;
-
USP Dietary Supplements Compendium.
For compounding pharmacists, the USP Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia contains both legally enforceable official text from USP–NF and authorized text of supporting information. A scientifically exact translation of USP 29–NF 24 into Spanish is available. The process of developing this book has provided USP with experience that facilitates other translations.
For example, USP is working on a Russian-language translation of USP–NF and anticipates that other translations will follow.
Conclusion
This article has reviewed some of the new and unique approaches USP is taking toward the development of monographs and General
Chapters as well as the launch of some new publications. USP has established a vigorous work plan for the 2005–2010 revision
cycle and is making the necessary procedural changes to expedite the realization of these goals. USP welcomes the extraordinary
contributions of its volunteer constituents as the organization strives throughout the remaining years of this cycle to fulfill
its mission of improving public healthcare.
Todd L. Cecil, PhD, is the vice-president of the Department of Standards Development at the US Pharmacopeia. Roger L. Williams, MD, is a member of Pharmaceutical Technology's Editorial Advisory board and the executive vice-president and CEO of the US Pharmacopeia, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville,
MD 20852-1790, tel. 301.816.8255, rlw@usp.org
References
1. United States Pharmacopeia 29–National Formulary 24 (US Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD, 2006), p. v.
2. T. Layloff et al., "The FDA Regulatory Methods Validation Program for New and Abbreviated New Drug Applications," Pharm. Technol.
24 (1), 30–42, 84 (2000).
3. L. Bhattacharyya et al., USP Council of Experts Executive Committee, "The Value of USP Public Standards for Therapeutic Products," Pharm. Res. 21 (10), 1725–1731 (2004).
4. USP, USP Guideline for Submitting Requests for Revision to
USP–NF. Available at:
http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/USPNF/revisionGuide.pdf, accessed Sept. 14, 2006.
5. USP Council of Experts, Expert Committee Members, and USP Staff, "The United States Pharmacopeia's Council of Experts
2005–2010: Work Plans, New Revision Approaches, and Other Enhancements," The AAPS J. Accepted for publication.
6. USP, "Recent Modifications to the USP Standards-Setting Process," Pharm. Forum.
32 (4), 1010 (2006), Available at:
http://www.usp.org/USPNF/notices/uspStandardsSetting.html, accessed Sept. 14, 2006.
7. Council of Experts Executive Committee, Ad Hoc Council of Experts Committee, and USP Staff, "Development of a New Official
Compendium, Separate from USP–NF, for Articles Not Legally Marketed in the US," Pharm Forum.
30 (5), 1877–1883 (2004).
8. T. Cecil. "Monograph Redesign Proposal," Pharm. Forum. 32 (6), in press (2006).
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