IPEC India could launch in 2012
The IPEC Federation – a group representing excipient makers whose members include IPEC Europe, IPEC Americas, JPEC and IPEC China – announced it had received an official request to establish an association in India at a meeting it held in Strasbourg, France last week.
The organisation said it has already begun reviewing the proposal that could, if approved by board members, see an Indian excipient organisation adopted as an associate member of the federation at its AGM in February next year.
IPEC Europe spokeswoman Carole Capitaine told in-pharmatechnologist.com that: “The review of IPEC India application is part of the usual process of IPEC Federation before integrating a new associate member.
“The structure of IPEC India will be similar to other PECs, association composed of users and makers of excipients." She added that: "A physical presence in the country is a must. Indian companies who comply with the IPEC India by-law requirements will be able to apply for membership.”
The idea of establishing an ‘IPEC India’ has been circulating for several years although, before this IPEC Federation announcement, plans have consistently been described as being at a preliminary stage.
Previous regional launches – the most recent of which was of IPEC China in 2008 – have involved a considerable amount of work with everything from translating documents to establishing the promotional infrastructure necessary to attract new members being involved in the process.
Global supply
India is set to play an increasingly import role in pharmaceutical excipient manufacturing and supply according to UBIC Consulting, which said that while US, European and Japanese producers continue to dominate the sector the market is starting to shift.
“The major producers are the US, Europe and Japan. However, this is expected to change in the future as producers in countries such as India and China, which both have major advantages in labour costs, show a steady increase.”
“Offering products with a steadily improving quality at a very competitive price will ensure that their share in the world market will continue to grow.”
IPEC has also spoken about setting up similar associations in Latin America - specifically in the rapidly emerging excipient supply hubs Brazil and Argentina.
