China and the U.S. signed an agreement Tuesday that could improve the safety of some commonly used drugs in the U.S., including Lipitor, Viagra, a flu drug called oseltamivir, and an antibiotic used for eye infections called gentamicin sulfate.

A recent Associated Press story notes that "The global pharmaceutical industry increasingly uses drugs either made or containing ingredients sourced in China."




The agreement was one of several signed as part of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT)meeting that just ended. The JCCT meets twice each year. The agreement, according the Forbes, will see China register producers of drugs and medical devices and "ensure they meet US safety standards and notify the US when safety problems surface."

While the new agreement may be a small step in the right direction, healthcare blogger Barbara Duck points out that "the accord covers only a tiny fraction of the pharmaceutical ingredients being marketed worldwide by thousands of unlicensed chemical companies. "

Another Blogosphere resident, Ellroon, was more cynical: "This should last about two minutes.... "

Under the agreement, U.S. food and drug inspectors will gain increased access to Chinese facilities where the drugs in questions are actually being produced. A working group of U.S. and Chinese officials is supposed to meet with 120 days to develop a plan to implement the new agreement.