BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 against symptomatic Omicron infection following a mass vaccination campaign in southern Brazil: A prospective test-negative design study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine against Omicron in Latin America is limited. We estimated BNT162b2 effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 in Brazil when Omicron was predominant. METHODS: This prospective test-negative, case-control study was conducted in Toledo, Brazil, following a mass COVID-19 vaccination with BNT162b2. Patients were included if they were aged ≥12 years, sought care for acute respiratory symptoms in the public health system between November 3, 2021 and June 20, 2022, and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. In the primary analysis, we determined the effectiveness of two doses of BNT162b2 against symptomatic COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 4,574 were enrolled; of these, 1,758 patients (586 cases and 1,172 controls) were included in the primary analysis. Mean age was 27.7 years, 53.8 % were women, and 90.1 % had a Charlson comorbidity index of zero. Omicron accounted for >97 % of all identified SARS-CoV-2 variants, with BA.1 and BA.2 accounting for 84.3 % and 12.6 %, respectively. Overall adjusted estimate of two-dose vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 was 46.7 % (95 %CI, 19.9 %-64.6 %) after a median time between the second dose and the beginning of COVID-19 symptoms of 94 days (IQR, 60-139 days). Effectiveness waned from 77.7 % at 7-29 days after receipt of a second dose to <30 % (non-significant) after ≥120 days. CONCLUSION: In a relatively young and healthy Brazilian population, two doses of BNT162b2 provided protection against symptomatic Omicron infection. However, this protection waned significantly over time, underscoring the need for boosting with variant-adapted vaccines in this population prior to waves of disease activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05052307 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05052307).

Desafios do desenvolvimento dos dossiês de registro de medicamentos fitoterápicos / Challenges in developing herbal medicine dossiers for registration at anvisa (brazilian health surveillance agency)

Os benefícios da utilização de plantas medicinais são amplamente discutidos no âmbito acadêmico por meio de pesquisa básica e pela população em geral, baseado no ainda presente uso tradicional. Porém, é evidente a baixa demanda por registro no órgão sanitário competente (ANVISA) de produtos considerados medicamentos fitoterápicos ou produto tradicional fitoterápico. A ANVISA tem implementado requisitos visando a garantir qualidade, segurança e eficácia desses produtos, a luz do que se exige aos medicamentos classificados como sintéticos. Nesta revisão, aspectos relacionados à pesquisa e desenvolvimento, em linhas gerais, de um medicamento fitoterápico são relacionados com o arcabouço regulatório que normatiza o registro de tais produtos. Cada etapa de desenvolvimento relaciona-se a uma normativa em específico, de tal forma, que a execução de qualquer experimento de forma diversa da preconizada, impossibilita sua utilização na documentação de registro do produto. Este link é essencial para que se obtenha resultados satisfatórios no sentido de viabilizar-se o registro e futura comercialização dos produtos desenvolvidos. O aproveitamento dos estudos realizados, a qualidade da documentação gerada e a aderência aos requisitos regulatórios, permitem a submissão de dossiês de registro, que uma vez analisados, serão aprovados pelo órgão competente. A aplicabilidade das políticas de atenção básica a saúde que preconizam a utilização de fitoterápicos, depende do correto desenvolvimento destes produtos, aprovação do órgão regulador para que somente então a população possa ter acesso.

The benefits of using medicinal plants are widely discussed in the academic field through basic research and the general population, based on the still present traditional use. However, the low demand for registration of products considered herbal medicine or traditional herbal medicine is clear in the competent health surveillance agency (ANVISA). ANVISA has implemented requirements aiming to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of these products in light of what is required for drugs classified as synthetic. In this review, general aspects related to research and development of herbal medicines are related to the regulatory framework that regulates the registration of such products. Each development stage relates to a specific normative, so that the implementation of any form differing from the proposed experiment precludes its use in product registration documentation. This link is essential in order to obtain satisfactory results to enable the registration and future commercialization of the developed products. The use of studies, the quality of the generated documentation and the adherence to regulatory requirements allow the submission of registration dossiers, which, once analyzed, are approved by the competent body. The applicability of primary care health policies that advocate for the use of herbal medicines depends on the correct development of these products, and approval by the regulatory entity, and only then, the general population can have access to such medicine.

Development and validation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry bioanalytical method for quantifying clonazepam in human plasma.

A sensitive, selective, and rapid ultra-performance LC (UPLC)/MSIMS method was validated for the confirmation and quantification of clonazepam in human plasma. The analyte was extracted from human plasma with diethyl ether, reaching an average recovery of 64.02 and 66.48% for clonazepam and the internal standard, respectively. The separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (50 x 2.1 mm id, 1.7 microm particle size) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min using a 0.5% formic acid solution (mobile phase A) and acetonitrile-methanol-formic acid (75+25 + 0.5, v/v/v; mobile phase B). Detection was performed on a triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometer in the multiple reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 0.3-50.0 ng/mL, with an LOQ of 0.3 ng/mL. The intraday and interday precision (CV) values were below 10%, and accuracy (relative error) ranged from -2.6 to 6.6% at all QC levels. The suggested method was successfully applied for the determination of clonazepam in human plasma in a bioequivalence study.

Development and validation of a UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of N-butylscopolamine in human plasma: application to a bioequivalence study.

A sensitive and fast ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for measurements of N-butylscopolamine in plasma was developed and validated. A single protein precipitation was proposed for the clean up of the plasma and N-methylhomatropine was added as internal standard (IS). The analyses were carried out using a C(18) column and mobile phase of acetonitrile: 5 mM ammonium acetate + 0.1% formic acid (90:10, v/v). The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source in positive mode, was set up in selective reaction monitoring, to detect precursor → product ion 360.0 → 194.0 m/z and 290.3 → 138.0 m/z transitions, for N-butylscopolamine and IS, respectively. The method was linear in 0.03 (lower limit of quantitation; LLOQ) - 10.00 ng/ml range for N-butylscopolamine. Satisfactory selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness were obtained for the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method. The proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of healthy human volunteers; the results showed that the two scopolamine butylbromide formulations tested are not bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.

Development and validation of an HPLC/MS/MS method for the determination of sufentanil and morphine in human plasma.

A sensitive and fast HPLC/MS/MS method for measurement of sufentanil and morphine in plasma was developed and validated. A single liquid-liquid extraction in alkaline medium was used for the cleanup of plasma, and fentanyl was added as an internal standard (IS). The analyses were carried out using a C18 column and the mobile phase acetonitrile-5 mM ammonium acetate + 0.25% formic acid (70 + 30, v/v). The triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source in positive mode was set up in the selective reaction monitoring mode to detect precursor --> product ion transition 387.0 > 238.0, 285.7 > 165.1, and 337.0 > 188.0 for sufentanil, morphine, and IS, respectively. The method was linear in the 0.05 (LOQ) - 500 ng/mL range for sufentanil and 10 (LOQ) - 1000 ng/mL range for morphine. Good selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness were obtained for the HPLC/MS/MS method. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of sufentanil and morphine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Monitorização terapêutica de sufentanil em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca / Sufentanil plasma monitoring during open heart intervention of revascularization of coronary patients submited to cardiac surgery

Introdução: O monitoramento plasmático e a avaliação farmacocinética são importantes ferramentas empregadas no controle terapêutico. O sufentanil é responsável pela estabilização hemodinâmica do paciente com melhor supressão da resposta neuroendócrina comparado ao seu análogo o fentanil. Este fármaco tem sido largamente utilizado em cirurgias cardíacas devido também, a sua menor meia vida plasmática em relação ao fentanil o que permite uma rápida recuperação cirúrgica de pacientes submetidos a tais procedimentos. Objetivo: Realizar o monitoramento plasmático do sufentanil em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca com e sem circulação extracorpórea (CEC) e posteriormente avaliar a farmacocinética do mesmo. Casuística: Investigaram-se 42 pacientes de ambos os sexos, portadores de insuficiência coronária crônica e candidatos à cirurgia eletiva de revascularização do miocárdio com ou sem circulação extracorpórea, internados na enfermaria clínica do Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Métodos - Etapa Clínica: Os pacientes inclusos neste estudo foram preparados para a realização do procedimento cirúrgico. Na indução da anestesia administrou-se 0,5 µg/Kg de sufentanil através de bolus, seguido de infusão de manutenção de 0,5 µg/Kg-h. Coletaram-se amostras seriadas de sangue no intra-operatório pós-indução e no pós operatório até 36 h após administração do sufentanil. A infusão de sufentanil foi suspensa no momento do término da sutura da pele. O plasma foi separado e transferido para tubos de polietileno devidamente identificados e armazenados em temperatura - 20 ºC até a realização da análise. Métodos - Etapa Analítica: As concentrações plasmáticas foram determinadas através do método desenvolvido e validado por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de Massas (LC-MS/MS). As amostras biológicas foram extraídas através de extração líquido-líquido em meio alcalino as quais foi adicionado fentanil como padrão interno. A separação cromatográfica foi obtida através de uma coluna C18 e fase móvel constituída por acetonitrila:acetato de amônio 5 mM + ácido fórmico 0,25% (70:30 v/v). O espectrômetro triplo quadro pólo, eletrospray positivo, monitorou as transições de massa entre 387,0>238,0, 285,7>165,1 e 337,0>188,0, para sufentanil, morfina e fentanil respectivamente. Métodos - Etapa Estatística: A modelagem farmacocinética foi realizada através da aplicação do software NonCompartmental Analysis, PK Solutions 2.0. O índice de significância empregado foi de 5% (p<0,05). Utilizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado para avaliação da distribuição do gênero e o teste t-student para os parâmetros idade, peso, altura e IMC. Para os dados de concentração plasmática foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Friedman seguido do teste post-hoc de Dunn's para comparação dos momentos da cirurgia do grupo que foi submetido a CEC. Para comparação dos momentos entre os grupos (submetido a CEC versus sem CEC) aplicou-se o teste de Wilcoxon. Resultados: Os pacientes cirúrgicos incluídos no protocolo eram adultos de ambos os sexos 9F/33M, com média de idade de 62,48 anos, 68,66 kg e IMC de 25,52 kg/m2. Destes, 30 pacientes referem-se ao Grupo com CEC e 12 são do grupo sem CEC. As doses totais médias de sufentanil administradas ao grupo com CEC e ao grupo sem CEC foram semelhantes, 3,23 ±0,67µg/kg e 3,53 ±0,90µg/kg respectivamente. O método analítico proposto apresentou-se linear no intervalo entre 0,05 - 500 ng/mL para o sufentanil e 10 - 1000 ng/mL para a morfina. Os dados obtidos na validação do método apresentaram especificidade, linearidade, robustez, precisão e exatidão. As concentrações plasmáticas obtidas forma estatisticamente diferentes entre os grupos com CEC e sem CEC. Durante o procedimento de circulação extra-corpórea foi observada intensa flutuação das concentrações plasmáticas de sufentanil. Foi aplicado o modelo tri-compartimental na avaliação cinética do sufentanil. Foram determinados os seguintes parâmetros farmacocinéticos: meia-vida de eliminação (t1/2), alfa (α), beta (ß) e gama (γ), área sob a curva (ASC), volume de distribuição (VD) e a depuração plasmática total (Cl). Destes, apenas T1/2 (γ) apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusões: O método proposto foi empregado satisfatoriamente na avaliação cinética do sufentanil. O protocolo realizado e os limites de quantificação do método analítico desenvolvido oportunizaram o emprego do modelo farmacocinético tricompartimental para o fármaco estudado. As concentrações plasmáticas de sufentanil foram afetadas pela CEC o que implicou na diferença significativa entre as meia-vida de eliminação γ calculadas para os grupos com CEC e sem CEC

Introduction: The plasma monitoring and the pharmacokinetic assessment are important tools employed in therapeutic control. Sufentanil is responsible for the hemodynamic stabilization of the patient with a better suppression of the neuroendocrine response compared to its analogue fentanyl. This pharmaco has been widely used in cardiac surgery also due to its shorter plasma half-life in relation to fentanyl, which allows a fast surgical recovery of patients who have undergone such procedures. Objectives: Perform the plasma monitoring of sufentanil in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with or without extracorporeal circulation and afterwards assess the pharmacokinetics of it. Study design: 42 patients of both genders with chronic coronary disease and candidates to elective surgery of myocardial revascularization with or without extracorporeal circulation were investigated. They were hospitalized in the clinical ward of the Heart Institute Hospital of the Medicine Faculty Clinic of the University of São Paulo. Methods- Clinical phase: the patients included in this study were prepared for the performance of the surgical procedure. In the anesthesia induction 0,5 µg/Kg was administered through bolus, followed by maintenance infusion 0,5 µg/Kg-h. Serial blood samples were collected in the intra-operatory after induction and in the pos-toperatory after 36 h of administration of sufentanil. Sufentanil infusion was suspended just as the skin suture was finished. The plasma was separated and transferred to the identified polyethylene test-tube and stored in a temperature -20ºC until the analyses. Methods - Analytical phase: The plasma concentrations were determined through the developed method and validated by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The biological samples were extracted through liquid-liquid extraction in alkaline mean, to which fentanyl was added as an internal pattern. The chromatographic separation was obtained through a C18 column and the mobile phase constituted by acetonitrile: 5 mM ammonia acetate + 0,25% formic acid (70:30 v/v). The triple-quad pole spectrometry, positive electrospray, monitored the mass transitions among 387.0>238.0, 285.7>165.1 and 337.0>188.0, for sufentanil, morphine and fentanyl , respectively. Methods - Statistical phase: The pharmacokinetic modeling was performed through the application of the software NonCompartmental Analysis, PK Solutions 2.0. The significance index employed was 5% (p<0,05). The qui-square test was used for the assessment of gender distribution and the t-student test for the age, weight, height and IMC parameters. The nonparametric test of Friedman was used for the plasma concentration, followed by Dunn´s post-hoc test for the comparison of the surgery moments of the group that was submitted to extracorporeal circulation. The test Wilcoxon was applied for the comparison of the moments between the groups (submitted to extracorporeal circulation versus without extracorporeal circulation). Results: The surgical patients included in the protocol were adults of both genders 9F/33M, with an average age of 62.48 years old, 68.66 kg and IMC of 25.52 kg/m2. 30 patients are from the group with extracorporeal circulation and 12 are from the group without extracorporeal circulation. The average total doses of sufentanil administered to the group with extracorporeal circulation and to the group without extracorporeal circulation were similar, 3.23 ±0.67µg/kg and 3.53 ±0.90µg/kg respectively. The analytical method proposed proved linear in the interval between 0.05 - 500 ng/mL for sufentanil and 10 - 1000 ng/mL for morphine. The data obtained in the validation proved specificity, linearity, robustness, precision and accuracy. The plasma concentrations obtained were statistically different between the groups with extracorporeal circulation and without extracorporeal circulation. During the extracorporeal circulation procedure an intense fluctuation was observed in the plasma concentration of sufentanil. The tri-compartmental model was applied in the kinetic assessment of sufentanil. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were determined: half-life elimination (t1/2), alpha (α), beta (ß) and gamma (γ), area under the curve, distribution volume and the total plasma depuration. Only T1/2 (γ) presented a significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: The proposed method was satisfactorily employed in the kinetic assessment of sufentanil. The protocol carried out and the quantification limits of the analytical method developed opportunized the employment of the tri-compartmental pharmacokinetic model for the pharmaco studied. The plasma concentrations of sufentanil were affected by the extracorporeal circulation, which implied in the meaningful difference between the elimination half-life γ calculated for the groups with extracorporeal circulation and without extracorporeal circulation

Bioequivalence study of two formulations of 100 mg capsule of itraconazole. Quantification by tandem mass spectrometry.

The purpose of this study is to compare the bioavailability of two itraconazole (CAS 84625-61-6) capsule formulations. An open, randomized, two-period crossover study with a 7-day washout interval was conduced in 32 healthy volunteers. The plasma samples were obtained up to 96 h after drug administration. A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of itraconazole in human plasma. Itraconazole and ketoconazole (internal standard) were extracted from the plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using diethylether : dichloromethane (70 : 30) as extraction solvent and separated on a C8 analytical column (150 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) maintained at 40 degrees C. The elution was performed by a constant flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and acetic acid 0.1% (85 :15 v/v). The mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source in positive mode, was set up in multiple reaction monitoring, to detect parent --> production 705.0 392.0 (itraconazole) and 531.0 --> 81.70 (ketoconazole). The chromatographic separation was obtained within 3.5 min and was linear in the concentration range of 5 to 600 ng/mL. Bioequivalence between the products was determined by calculating 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of C(max) (95.02%-109.48%), AUC(0-t) (81.41%-107.77%) and AUC(0-inf) (80.85%-106.86%). These values for the test and reference products are within the 80-125% interval, proposed by FDA and EMEA. It was concluded that the proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy human volunteers, and results showed that the two itraconazole formulations are bioequivalent in their rate and extent of absorption.

Bioavailability of two oral formulas of secnidazole in healthy volunteers / Biodisponibilidade de duas fórmulas de secnidazol oral em voluntários saudáveis

Secnidazole is an antimicrobial agent used primarily in the treatment of amoebiasis. For this bioequivalence study of secnidazole, twenty-eight healthy female volunteers were enrolled in a randomized crossover study. Each volunteer was given a single oral dose of secnidazole test preparation and then the reference preparation, or vice versa, with a wash out interval of two weeks. The plasma concentrations of secnidazole were determined by HPLC, and the samples were extracted with tert-butyl-methyl-ether: dicloromethane (60:40, v/v). Secnidazole and its parent compound metronidazole were separated on a C18 column with water:acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) as the mobile phase, and monitored at 310 nm. The ratio of mean Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ values for the test and reference products were within the predetermined range established by ANVISA, demonstrating that the two formulations are bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.

Secnidazol é um agente antimicrobiano utilizado principalmente no tratamento da amebíase. Para este estudo de bioequivalência de secnidazol em voluntários saudáveis, foram incluídos vinte e oito voluntárias mulheres no estudo randomizado cruzado. Cada voluntária recebeu uma única dose oral de secnidazol do produto teste e referência para comparação, com um intervalo de wash-out de duas semanas. As concentrações plasmáticas de secnidazol foram determinados por CLAE, as amostras foram extraídas com terc-butil-metil-éter: dicloromethano (60:40, v/v). O secnidazol e seu padrão interno metronidazol foram separados em uma coluna (C18 ) com fase móvel água ultra-pura:acetonitrila (85:15, v/v) e monitorado em 310 nm. As razões entre as médias geométricas de Cmáx, ASC0-t e ASC0-∞, encontraram-se dentro do estabelecido pela ANVISA, demonstrando que as formulações são bioequivalentes quanto à taxa e extensão de absorção.

Validation of a liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of scopolamine butylbromide in human plasma: application of the method to a bioequivalence study.

A sensitive and specific LC/MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of scopolamine butylbromide in human plasma. Scopolamine butylbromide and propanolol (internal standard) were extracted from the plasma by liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane as the extraction solvent and separated on a C18 analytical column (50 x 4.6 mm id) maintained at 40 degrees C. The analytes were eluted at a constant flow rate of 0.45 mL/min; the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and a buffer of 5 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid (60 + 40, v/v). The mass spectrometer, equipped with an electrospray source in the positive ionization mode, was set up in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode to monitor the transitions m/z 360.6 > 102.5 (scopolamine butylbromide) and m/z 259.7 > 115.6 (propanolol). The chromatographic separation was obtained within 2.0 min, and the responses were linear over the concentration range of 0.10-40.00 ng/mL. The mean extraction recoveries of scopolamine butylbromide and propanolol from plasma were 69.00 and 80.76%, respectively. Method validation parameters, such as specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and stability, were within the acceptable range. Moreover, when the proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of healthy human volunteers, the results showed that the two scopolamine butylbromide formulations tested are not bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of tetracycline in human plasma: application to bioequivalence study.

A fast, sensitive, and specific liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for determination of tetracycline in human plasma. Tetracycline and oxytetracycline [internal standard (IS)] were extracted from the plasma by protein precipitation. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-formic acid 0.1% (48 + 52, v/v), run at a flow rate of 1 ml/min (split 1:5). Detection was performed by positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode, monitoring the transitions 444.8 > 410.0 and 461.0 > 426.0 for tetracycline and IS, respectively. The analysis was performed in 3.5 min and the method was linear in the plasma concentration range of 50-6000 ng/mL. The mean extraction recoveries for tetracycline and IS from plasma were 92.14 and 94.04%, respectively. Method validation investigated parameters such as the linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and stability, giving results within the acceptable range. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of tetracycline in human plasma samples to support bioequivalence studies.

Determinação do prazo de validade do medicamento carbocisteína xarope através do método de Arrhenius / Determination of carbocysteine syrup shelf life by Arrhenius method

A carbocisteína é um agente mucolítico utilizado como adjuvante no tratamento de infecções do trato respiratório. A qualidade, segurança e eficácia do medicamento durante o seu prazo de validade são responsabilidades da indústria farmacêutica. A validade pode ser determinada através de estudos de estabilidade acelerados, nos quais fatores extrínsecos provocam a degradação do produto. De acordo com Arrhenius, existe uma relação entre temperatura e cinética química. Desta forma, amostras do produto foram expostas a condições drásticas: 40, 50, 60 e 70 ºC. O método de doseamento do xarope de carbocisteína foi validado podendo ser aplicado nas avaliações de rotina do controle de qualidade e no estudo de estabilidade deste produto. O prazo de validade proposto para o xarope de carbocisteína, calculado através da equação de Arrhenius, para a temperatura de 25 ºC foi de 240,9 dias. No entanto, foi observada diferença entre o prazo proposto e a validade usualmente praticada para este produto. Este estudo, ainda, demonstrou a presença de picos endógenos, que precisam ser melhor estudados a fim de se confirmar a presença de produtos de degradação.

Carbocysteine is a mucolytic agent in adjunctive therapy of respiratory tract infections. The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for quality, safety and efficiency of the product during its shelf life. Shelf life can be determinated through an accelerated stability study where the degradation of the drug is managed with the extrinsic factors. According to Arrhenius, there is a relationship between temperature and chemical kinetic, so, the samples were exposed to drastic conditions at 40, 50, 60 and 70 ºC. The syrup assay method has been validated and it may be applied to analysis of carbocysteine syrup in routine quality control and stability studies. Through Arrhenius equation the proposed shelf life of carbocysteine syrup was 240.9 days when the dosage form is stored in appropriated conditions, 25 ºC. However difference was found between the proposed shelf life and the usual shelf life of this drug. In addition, this study has showed the presence of endogenous peaks that must be better evaluated to confirm or not the presence of degradation products.