Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission inks new partnerships to boost drug quality and research

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Bureau of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.

The MoU between the Pharmacopoeia Commission of India and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India aims to strengthen the quality assurance framework for medicines made available through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).

Under this collaboration, PMBI can submit randomly selected batches of Jan Aushadhi medicines to IPC for quality testing. This partnership will promote the use of India's National Formulary (NFI) in PMBJKs to ensure rational use of medicines. It also aims to strengthen pharmacovigilance activities by displaying the QR code of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PVPI) and toll-free helpline number (1800-180-3024) at PMBJKs across the country, thereby encouraging reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and improving patient safety.

Additionally, IPC and PMBI will jointly organise sensitization, awareness and training programmes for pharmacists and stakeholders on rational use of drugs, pharmacovigilance, ADR reporting tools, and the role of pharmacists in safeguarding public health.

The MoU signed between the Pharmacopoeia Commission of India and NIPER, Hajipur focuses on collaborative research, academic exchanges, and capacity building in the field of pharmaceutical science and healthcare products. NIPER Hajipur, an Institute of National Importance, possesses advanced expertise in pharmaceutical analysis, biologics, and clinical research, making it a valuable partner in strengthening pharmacopoeial science and patient safety.

The collaboration will include joint research programmes on profiling impurities, including genotoxic impurities such as nitrosamine and their correlation with adverse drug response data, to establish evidence-based pharmacopoeial boundaries. It will also focus on the development of analytical methods, quality control protocols, and reference standards for biologics, biosimilars, and emerging cell and gene therapy products, so that they can be incorporated into the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

The two institutes will collaborate in organising training programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences, as well as faculty exchange initiatives and sharing of advanced analytical instrument facilities. Internship and fellowship opportunities for pharmacy graduates and postgraduates, as well as joint publication of research papers, training manuals, and educational materials, will further strengthen scientific engagement and institutional capacity building.