The workshop provided a platform to examine the trends and issues related to the analytical characterization and impurities of therapeutic peptides and proteins from a compendial and industry perspective.

Today, therapeutic proteins and peptides are the fastest growing classes of drugs and as with most emerging research therapies, have many challenges that need to be addressed. Speakers at the workshop included representatives from USP, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM), the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) and leading pharmaceutical experts from India and other countries.

During the workshop, USP also presented an update on the development and modernization of relevant USP standards, accompanied by case studies and panel discussions. Other participants in the workshop were analytical chemists, R&D scientists, contract research organizations, and academic scholars from various educational institutions.

As to the purpose of the workshop, Dr Koduru V Surendranath, senior vice president, global sites and senior vice president of USP-India said, "Such events are invaluable for sharing of best practices, nationally and globally. They encourage collaboration and provide impetus for the discovery of newer treatment avenues. They also serve to ensure that the highest quality standards are maintained in the process."

In an effort to increase collaboration and exchange of valuable, current information among industry experts, USP-India has previously held other significant workshops and programs such as the Pharmacopeial Education and Training (PE), created to support the appropriate use of the United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary (USP-NF) standards and analytical methods.

Taught by USP's subject matter experts, these PE courses are held throughout the year in India. More than 1000 attendees in India have participated in the PE courses to date. USP-India has also conducted a workshop for analysts of drug laboratories from the Network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (NOMCOL) of South East Asia countries. USP launched the NOMCOL for Asia and the Pacific (NOMCOL-Asia Pacific) to promote cooperation in quality control expertise and increase exchange of technical skills among all laboratories in the regions.

Dr Surendranath concluded, "Today, we are here together with a single common goal: to provide patients with medicines that are not only effective but also consistently safe. USP-India is committed to this endeavor and will work in every possible capacity to ensure India's drugs meet the highest global standards of quality and safety."