USP's 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting to convene scientific experts from around the world

Meeting to be held Sep. 24-26 in Kansas City

Rockville, Md., September 3, 2008 — The U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention's 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held in Kansas City, Mo., September 24 to 26. The meeting is an opportunity to interact with the USP experts responsible for establishing internationally recognized standards for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, food ingredients and dietary supplements. The focus will be on Quality of Manufactured Medicines, Food Ingredients and Dietary Supplements.

The keynote speaker will be Kenneth D. Mandl, M.P.H., associate professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Intelligent Health Laboratory at the Children's Hospital Informatics Program in Boston, Mass. Experts from USP, the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, academic institutions, leading manufacturers, the United Nations and the World Bank will present information aimed at improving drug, supplement and food ingredient quality. More than 450 attendees are expected to make the trip to Kansas City this year to attend the cutting-edge sessions, provide feedback and network with colleagues.

In the wake of recent drug and food safety crises like adulterated heparin and pet food, this year's ASM will focus on topics such as detecting impurities and heavy metals to work towards preventing these tragedies in the future.

General tracks include:

• Track I: Quality of Manufactured Medicines: Impurities

• Track II: Quality of Manufactured Medicines: General Notices and Process Topics

• Track III: Quality of Manufactured Medicines: General Chapters & Performance Testing (Microbiology Topics and Packaging Safety Topics)

• Track IV: Quality of Manufactured Medicines: Drug Products

• Track V: Quality of Food Ingredients and Dietary Supplements

• Special Topic: Quality of Veterinary Drugs

• Special Topic: Drug Safety and Efficacy in Global Markets

• General Session Special Topic: Heavy Metals

"USP relies on the feedback it receives from scientific experts as we develop standards for the quality, purity and strength of medicines and food ingredients. The ASM is a wonderful opportunity for those who are affected by our standards to participate in the process, which is why the meeting is so important. I look forward to robust discussions with regulators and industry representatives at the meeting as we work together to help ensure the quality and safety of medicines and food ingredients," said Darrell Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D., chief science officer for USP.

Registration is currently open and can be completed online at: http://www.usp.org/meetings/asMeeting/registrationInfo.html.The registration rate is $1,350 per person through September 12. For members of associations, academia and government, the rate is $650. The registration fee covers the program, meeting materials, breakfast and lunch daily, and all meeting social activities.

USP—Advancing Public Health Since 1820

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a private, non-profit, standards-setting organization that advances public health by ensuring the quality and consistency of medicines, promoting the safe and proper use of medications, and verifying ingredients in dietary supplements. These standards, which are recognized worldwide, are developed by a unique process of public involvement through the contributions of volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For more information about USP and its four public health programs, visit www.usp.org/newscenter.