Pharmacopeior

Pharmacopeior is a term sometimes used to denote a person who compiles and edits pharmacopoeias, the official compendia of drug standards. The form is rarely used in standard pharmacopoeial practice; editors and committee members are typically described as editors, editors-in-chief, or members of a pharmacopoeial commission, rather than as pharmacopeiors.

Etymology: from pharmacopeia, the medical drug compendium, and the Latin agent noun suffix -ior.

In practice, a pharmacopeior would oversee the development and revision of pharmacopoeial monographs, analytical methods, impurity limits, excipients, labeling requirements, and sampling procedures; coordinate with national and international authorities; review proposed changes; manage public consultations; ensure consistency with international pharmacopoeias such as USP, EP, or JP.

Historically, pharmacopoeias emerged in early modern Europe; editors were scientists, physicians, and regulatory officials; while the term pharmacopeior is not standard, the role of maintaining drug standards has long required collaboration across disciplines.

Usage: In modern pharmacology, the proper term for the responsible professional would be pharmacopoeial editor, editorial secretary, or member of the pharmacopoeial committee; the coined term pharmacopeior appears primarily in historical or fictional contexts.

See also: pharmacopoeia, pharmacopoeial standard, monograph, regulatory affairs.