Pediatric formulation development - Challenges of today and strategies for tomorrow: Summary report from M-CERSI workshop 2019.

A workshop on "Pediatric Formulation Development: Challenges of Today and Strategies for Tomorrow" was organized jointly by the University of Maryland's Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development (IQ) Drug Product Pediatric Working Group (PWG). This multi-disciplinary, pediatric focused workshop was held over a two-day period (18-19 Jun 2019) and consisted of participants from industry, regulatory agencies, academia and other organizations from both US and Europe. The workshop consisted of sequential sessions on formulation, analytical, clinical, and regulatory and industry lessons learned and future landscape. Each session began with a series of short framing presentations, followed by facilitated breakout sessions and panel discussion. The formulation session was dedicated to three main topics pertaining to drug product acceptability, excipients in pediatrics and oral administration device considerations. The analytical session discussed key considerations for dosing vehicle selection and analytical strategies for testing of different dosage forms, specifically mini-tablets (multiparticulates). The clinical session highlighted the influence of pediatric pharmacokinetics prediction on formulation design, pediatric drug development strategies and clinical considerations to support pediatric formulation design. The regulatory and industry lessons learned and future landscape session explored the regional differences that exist in regulatory expectations, requirements for pediatric formulation development, and key patient-centric factors to consider when developing novel pediatric formulations. This session also discussed potential collaboration opportunities and tools for pediatric formulation development. This manuscript summarizes the key discussions and outcomes of all the sessions in the workshop with a broadened review and discussion of the topics that were covered.

Development of a robust once-a-day glipizide matrix system.

The robustness of a new hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) based modified release glipizide (10 mg) formulation was studied. The tablet formulations were prepared by dry blending the ingredients and direct compression, incorporating a range of release modifying agents up to +/-20% w/w relative to an optimized formulation. The dissolution was assessed in 900 mL pH 6.8 buffer at 75 rev min(-1) paddle speed. Calculated difference and similarity factors (f(1) and f(2)) and results of analysis of variance suggest that the overall release profiles were similar. Compositional changes up to +/-20% w/w and a reduction of drug dose to half did not change the general release pattern of this low dose/pH-dependent drug in a significant way. It is concluded that the drug release from the developed matrix systems is highly dependent on the kinetics of hydration and erosion, and that the proposed compositional changes within +/-20% w/w did not alter this relationship. The particulate systems used were characterized by determining the Carr index, Hausner ratio and the rheological properties using a texture analyser. Results indicate that the release is reproducible and the system has potential for successful scale-up operation, while complying with recommended Food and Drug Administration guidelines "Scale Up and Post Approval Changes".

Development of a controlled release low dose class II drug-Glipizide.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new monolithic matrix system to completely deliver glipizide, a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II drug in a zero order manner over an extended time period. Two approaches were examined using drug in formulations that contain swellable hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) or erodible polyethylene oxide (PEO). The matrices were prepared by dry blending selected ratios of polymers and ingredients using direct compression technique. Dissolution was assessed using modified USP apparatus II. Glucotrol XL push-pull osmotic pump (PPOP) was used as the reference. The interrelationship between matrix hydration, erosion and textural properties were determined and analyzed under the dissolution test conditions. Linear and reproducible release similar to that of Glucotrol XL was achieved for optimized matrices (f2>50) independent of hydrodynamic conditions. The kinetics of drug delivery was directly related to the synchronization of swelling, erosion and fractional release. HPMC matrices showed a significantly greater degree of hydration and swelling and stronger texture property relative to PEO matrices. Results indicate that in the case of low dose/low soluble drug, total drug release in a zero order manner heavily depends on the synchronization of erosion and swelling fronts during the entire dissolution study.

Analysis of macromolecular changes and drug release from hydrophilic matrix systems.

The influence of water-soluble and insoluble excipients on dynamics of hydration, front movement, erosion, and drug release from hydrophilic matrix tablets containing water-soluble drug was studied. Tablets were manufactured by direct compression, and their un-constrained swelling behavior and gel strength were assessed with a texture analyzer. Dissolution was performed using USP 26 apparatus II modified by insertion of a mesh to prevent sticking of tablets to the bottom of the vessel and to allow free three-dimensional matrix swelling. Significant release differences between tablet batches were observed and this was consistent with changes in swelling rate, gel thickness, and swelling front movement within the tablets. Matrices containing approximately 30% drug load and water-soluble lactose, demonstrated more pronounced swelling front movement and hence drug release relative to the matrix tablets containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. The observed differences in release were verified by calculating the similarity and difference factors. The interdependence of front movement and mass erosion in relation to excipient types on progression of swelling front movement and alteration of water penetration, erosion, and drug release are explained. It is concluded that unlike in conventional dosage forms inclusion of excipients in hydrophilic controlled-release tablets containing water-soluble drugs should be carefully analyzed as their various physico-chemical properties may have significant implications on swelling dynamics, front movement, drug release kinetics, and consequently in vivo performance.