STUDIES IN PROSPECTIVE PROCESS VALIDATION OF ALLOPURINOL USP AS ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENT

Allopurinol USP batches of same size, method, equipment and validation criterion were taken. The critical process parameter involved were reaction, drying, milling, sifting, milling, and blending stages were validation. Quality cannot be assured by daily quality control testing because of the limitations of statistical samples, and the limited facilities of finished product testing. Validation checks the accuracy and reliability of process. Aim of this work was to study prospective process validation of allopurinol USP designed to meet the current regulatory requirements and prove with assurance that the product meets the predetermined specifications and quality attributes. The critical process parameter was identified with the help of process capability and evaluated by challenging its in house and compendial specification. Three initial process validations batches APL/008, APL/009 and APL/010 were identified and evaluated as per validation master plan. The outcome indicated that this process validation data provides high degree of assurance so that manufacturing process produces a quality product.

Application of Central Composite Design for screening and Optimization of HPTLC method for simultaneous quantitation of Aprepitant, Dexamethasone and Ondansetron in their synthetic mixtures

New HPTLC method was developed and optimized for estimation of Ondansetron (OND), Dexamethasone (DEX) and Aprepitant (APT) in laboratory prepared ternary mixtures by using Central composite design (CCD). The independent variables used for the optimization were the acetone content in mobile phase (%mL), distance of developing solvent (cm) and saturation time (min). HPTLC Separation was performed on Precoated silica gel F254 aluminum plate (10X10 cm, 100μm thickness) with a mobile phase consisting of chloroform: methanol: acetone: ethyl acetate: ammonia (9:4:2:5:0.2 % v/v/v/v). Quantification of OND, APT and DEX were achieved based on a Densitometric analysis over the concentration range of 200-1200 ng/band, 500-1000 ng/band and 1000-2000 ng/band, respectively, at 254nm. The method was yielded dense and well-resolved bands at Rf values of 0.54± 0.02, 0.79±0.02 and 0.23±0.01 for OND, APT and DEX, respectively. The linear regression analysis for the calibration plots produced r2= 0.9997, r2= 0.9998 and r2=0.9997 for OND, APT and DEX, respectively. The method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. The robustness test was determined that the selected factors have an insignificant effect on the responses. The results indicated that the method is suitable for the routine quality control testing of OND, APT and DEX in their bulk form.

Economical droplet-based microfluidic production of [18F]FET and [18F]Florbetaben suitable for human use

Current equipment and methods for preparation of radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET) are expensive and best suited for large-scale multi-doses batches. Microfluidic radiosynthesizers have been shown to provide an economic approach to synthesize these compounds in smaller quantities, but can also be scaled to clinically-relevant levels. Batch microfluidic approaches, in particular, offer significant reduction in system size and reagent consumption. Here we show a simple and rapid technique to concentrate the radioisotope, prior to synthesis in a droplet-based radiosynthesizer, enabling production of clinically-relevant batches of [18F]FET and [18F]FBB. The synthesis was carried out with an automated synthesizer platform based on a disposable Teflon-silicon surface-tension trap chip. Up to 0.1 mL (4 GBq) of radioactivity was used per synthesis by drying cyclotron-produced aqueous [18F]fluoride in small increments directly inside the reaction site. Precursor solution (10 µL) was added to the dried [18F]fluoride, the reaction chip was heated for 5 min to perform radiofluorination, and then a deprotection step was performed with addition of acid solution and heating. The product was recovered in 80 µL volume and transferred to analytical HPLC for purification. Purified product was formulated via evaporation and resuspension or a micro-SPE formulation system. Quality control testing was performed on 3 sequential batches of each tracer. The method afforded production of up to 0.8 GBq of [18F]FET and [18F]FBB. Each production was completed within an hour. All batches passed quality control testing, confirming suitability for human use. In summary, we present a simple and efficient synthesis of clinically-relevant batches of [18F]FET and [18F]FBB using a microfluidic radiosynthesizer. This work demonstrates that the droplet-based micro-radiosynthesizer has a potential for batch-on-demand synthesis of 18F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for human use.

Separation and Determination of Process Related Impurities in Palbociclib: A Rp-hplc Study

Aims: A new gradient RP-HPLC method was developed for the separation and determination of process related impurities in Palbociclib. Methodology: The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Inert sustain swift (C18) column using a mobile phase comprising of perchloric acid and acetonitrile in a gradient mode at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. over a runtime of 50 minutes. All the eluants were monitored at 230 nm. The optimized method was validated as per ICH guidelines for various parameters. Results: The linearity of the method was proposed in the range of LOQ to 250 % for the drug and its impurities by subjecting the data obtained to statistical analysis using correlation coefficient model (r > 0.99). The method also gave acceptable recovery of all the four impurities at each level and was found to be accurate. The % RSD obtained in the method precision and intermediate precision were less than 2% depicting the precision of the method. The LOD and LOQ values were calculated based on the signal to noise ratio and are indicating the sensitivity of the method. The specificity of the method was checked in the presence of process related impurities and also degradants generated by exposing to a variety of forced degradation conditions. Conclusion: The proposed RP-HPLC method for the determination of process related impurities of Palbociclib could be routinely used in the quality control testing.

Method Development for the Control of Potential Genotoxic Impurities in Vigabatrin Using Gas Chromatography Techniques and Mass Spectroscopy Detector

Aim: To develop a sensitive headspace GC-MS method for the determination of potential genotoxic impurities in Vigabatrin. Place and Duration of Study: The study was performed in SIONC Pharmaceuticals, Visakhapatnam from June 2020 to March 2021. Methodology: The impurities were determined by selected ion monitoring mode using VF -WAXms (30 mts length, 0.25 mm internal diameter, 1.0 µ film thickness) column. Helium gas was used as carrier gas with a column flow of 1.0 mL/min. and injector temperature maintained at 220 0C. Oven Temperature, loop temperature and transfer line temperature were maintained in the head space at 70oC, 90oC and 100oC respectively. Results: The linearity of the method was proposed in the range of LOQ to 150 % for the genotoxic impurities by subjecting the data obtained to statistical analysis using linear regression model (r2 > 0.99). The method also gave acceptable recovery of all the four impurities at each level and was found to be accurate. The % RSD obtained in the method precision and intermediate precision were less than 11% depicting the precision of the method. The LOD and LOQ values were calculated based on the signal to noise ratio and are indicating the sensitivity of the method. The specificity of the method was checked for blank interference at the retention time of respective impurities. Conclusion: The results proved that the proposed headspace GC-MS method for the study of potential genotoxic impurities of Vigabatrin was sensitive, precise and accurate and could be routinely used in the quality control testing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Quality of selected anti-retroviral medicines: Tanzania Mainland market as a case study

Background Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) have significantly reduced morbidity, mortality and improved the quality of life of people living with HIV infection. Poor quality ARVs may result in harmful consequences such as adverse drug reactions, treatment failure and development of drug resistant strains and sometimes death, which in turn may undermine the healthcare delivery system. To ensure optimal treatment outcomes, medicines quality control must be undertaken regularly. This study was aimed at evaluating the quality of ARVs circulating on the Tanzania Mainland market. Methods This was a survey study. ARVs samples were collected in 20 regions of Tanzania Mainland, between 2012 and 2018. All sampled ARVs were subjected to screening testing using the Global Pharma Health Fund® Mini-Lab kits. Sampled ARV’s that failed screening test or yielded doubtful results and 10 % (10 %) of all that complied with the screening test requirements were selected for full quality control testing. Quality control testing was conducted at the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) laboratory a World Health Organisation prequalified. Samples collected from the medicine distribution outlets were also, subjected to product information review. Results A total of 2,630 samples were collected, of which 83.7 % (2200/2630) were from port of entry (POEs). All sampled ARVs were screened and conformed to the specifications, except of the fixed dose combination (FDC) lopinavir/ritonavir 0.27 % (7/2630) and lamivudine/zidovudine/nevirapine 0.27 % (7/2630) that failed the disintegration test. Out of the 100 samples selected for full quality control testing, 3 % of them failed to comply with the specifications, of which FDC stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine failed disintegration and assay tests 2 % (2/100) and 1 % (1/100), respectively. Samples failing the assay test had low content of stavudine (86.6 %) versus specification limits (90 -110 %). Out of the 430 samples which were subjected to product information review, 25.6 % (110/430) failed to comply with the TMDA packaging and labelling requirements. Conclusions The quality of majority of ARVs circulating on the Tanzania Mainland market was good, even so, significant deficiencies on labelling and packaging were observed. These results call for continuous monitoring of quality of medicines circulating on the Tanzania Mainland market.

Evaluation of Critical Quality Attributes of a Pentavalent (A, C, Y, W, X) Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine for Global Use

Towards achieving the goal of eliminating epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal disease in the African meningitis belt, a pentavalent glycoconjugate vaccine (NmCV-5) has been developed to protect against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, W and X. MenA and X polysaccharides are conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT) while MenC, Y and W polysaccharides are conjugated to recombinant cross reactive material 197 (rCRM197), a non-toxic genetic variant of diphtheria toxin. This study describes quality control testing performed by the manufacturer, Serum Institute of India Private Limited (SIIPL), and the independent control laboratory of the U.K. (NIBSC) on seven clinical lots of the vaccine to ensure its potency, purity, safety and consistency of its manufacturing. In addition to monitoring upstream-manufactured components, samples of drug substance, final drug product and stability samples were evaluated. This paper focuses on the comparison of the vaccine’s critical quality attributes and reviews key indicators of its stability and immunogenicity. Comparable results were obtained by the two laboratories demonstrating sufficient levels of polysaccharide O-acetylation, consistency in size of the bulk conjugate molecules, integrity of the conjugated saccharides in the drug substance and drug product, and acceptable endotoxin content in the final drug product. The freeze-dried vaccine in 5-dose vials was stable based on molecular sizing and free saccharide assays. Lot-to-lot manufacturing consistency was also demonstrated in preclinical studies for polysaccharide-specific IgG and complement-dependent serum bactericidal activity for each serogroup. This study demonstrates the high quality and stability of NmCV-5, which is now undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials in Africa and India.

A Study Into the Use of Milliflex Quantum as Rapid Microbial Detection Method for Microorganisms in Pharmaceutical...

Control of pharmaceutical water systems represents an essential part of Good Manufacturing Practice and embedded within this is the quality control testing of water systems for viable microorganisms, and subjecting the data obtained to trend analysis. This has traditionally been achieved by membrane filtration and the use of a culture medium. While such test methodologies can recover a level of the bioburden present, the incubation times are lengthy. To address the problem of time-to-result, rapid microbiological methods offer an alternative approach. One such example is the Milliflex Quantum, which is the focus of this article.