Mass Balance in Pharmaceutical Stress Testing: A Review of Principles and Practical Applications.

Stress testing (also known as forced degradation) of pharmaceutical drug substances and products is a critical part of the drug development process, providing insight into the degradation pathways of drug substances and drug products. This information is used to support the development of stability-indicating methods (SIMs) capable of detecting pharmaceutically relevant degradation products that might potentially be observed during manufacturing, long-term storage, distribution, and use. Assessing mass balance of stressed samples is a key aspect of developing SIMs and is a regulatory expectation. However, the approaches to measure, calculate, and interpret mass balance can vary among different pharmaceutical companies. Such disparities also pose difficulties for health authorities when reviewing mass balance assessments, which may result in the potential delay of drug application approvals. The authors have gathered input from 10 pharma companies to map out a practical review of science-based approaches and technical details to assess and interpret mass balance results. Key concepts of mass balance are introduced, various mass balance calculations are demonstrated, and recommendations on how to investigate poor mass balance results are presented using real-world case studies. Herein we provide a single source reference on the topic of mass balance in pharmaceutical forced degradation for small molecule drug substances and drug products in support of regulatory submissions with the goal of facilitating a shared understanding among pharmaceutical scientists and health authorities.

AQbD-Guided Development and Validation of an Innovative Extraction Procedure and Stability-Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Quantification of Posaconazole in Tablet Formulation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to develop a stability-indicating HPLC method for the quantification of Posaconazole (PCZ) in tablet formulation using an Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The development process involved the Design of Experiments (DOE) utilizing distinctive constraints mixture design for mobile phase ratio optimization and a 2-level factorial design for selection of extraction diluent compositions. Key responses measured included % assay and system suitability parameters. Method operable design regions (MODR) were determined, and final optimum conditions were selected. Forced degradation studies were conducted to assess method stability. RESULTS: The optimized HPLC method employed a Zorbax C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of pH 3.5 10mM phosphate buffer, acetonitrile, and methanol in a ratio of 30:53:17 % v/v/v. The method demonstrated stability-indicating capabilities, with PCZ degradation observed in acidic and oxidative environments, while remaining stable in alkali. Peak purity analysis from Empower software confirmed the absence of interaction with degradants. Validation according to ICH Q2 (R2) guidelines showed precision, linearity over the range of 0.25 µg/mL to 376 µg/mL, and accuracy demonstrated through recovery studies from 50 to 150%. CONCLUSION: The developed HPLC method utilizing AQbD approach is specific, robust, precise, and accurate for the quantification of PCZ in tablet formulations, thus suitable for routine analysis.

Development and validation of stability-indicating method of etrasimod by HPLC/DAD/MS/MS technique with greenness profiling.

Etrasimod, a novel selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicinal Agency for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults. In this research, the forced degradation study as an integral part of drug product and packaging development, which generates data on degradation mechanisms, is published. The development and validation of the stability-indicating method using a superior high-performance liquid chromatography technique coupled with a diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer was performed to support the forced degradation study and monitor the formation of degradation products. Etrasimod demonstrated good stability under elevated temperature and basic stress conditions, while acidic hydrolysis, oxidative, and photolytic degradation produced eight degradation products. The knowledge of degradation products will be useful in the long-term stability study for establishing the acceptance criteria of etrasimod as a drug substance and dosage form during quality control and stability assessment. The eco-friendliness of the developed forced degradation procedure was evaluated using various greenness appraisal tools. The green metric tools showed that the forced degradation procedure obeys eco-friendly conditions.

Development and validation of stability indicating RP-HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of silodosin and mirabegron in synthetic mixture.

The study focuses to validate and develop a precise, simple and accurate stability indicating RP-HPLC method for estimation simultaneously of and silodosin and mirabegron in synthetic mixture. The chromatographic separation was achieved by using Shimpack Solar C18 column (250×4.5mm, 5µm) with acetonitrile: 5mM ammonium acetate in ratio of 90:10% v/v as a mobile phase at a constant flow rate of about 1.2mL/min. The development and validation were carried out at detection wavelength of 229nm. We developed a robust RP-HPLC method, validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and system suitability. The method demonstrated excellent linearity with correlation coefficient value r2 was nearly 0.998 with linearity range 8-18µg/mL for Silodosin and 24-54µg/mL for mirabegron. LOD and LOQ were found to be lower; hence, the method is sensitive. Percentage recovery was obtained 99.97% and 99.99% for silodosin and mirabegron, respectively. In case of precision, robustness and repeatability, RSD was found to be less than 2. The validated and developed RP-HPLC method offers an efficient and practical approach for the simultaneous quantification of silodosin and mirabegron in pharmaceutical formulations, making it a valuable tool for quality control and pharmaceutical research.

Development of a novel quality by design-enabled stability-indicating HPLC method and its validation for the quantification of nirmatrelvir in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A systematic and novel quality by design-enabled, rapid, simple, and economic stability-indicating HPLC method for quantifying nirmatrelvir (NMT) was successfully developed and validated. An analytical target profile (ATP) was established, and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) were allocated to meet the ATP requirements. The method used chromatographic separation using a Purosphere column with a 4.6 mm inner diameter × 250 mm (2.5 µm). The analysis occurred at 50°C with a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and detection at 220 nm. A 10 µL sample was injected, and the mobile phase consisted of two components: mobile phase A, containing 0.1% formic acid in water (20%), and mobile phase B, containing 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (80%). The diluent was prepared by mixing acetonitrile and water at a 90:10 v/v ratio. The retention time for the analyte was determined to be 2.78 min. Accuracy exceeded 99%, and the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.999. The validated HPLC method was characterized as precise, accurate, and robust. Significantly, NMT was found to be susceptible to alkaline, acidic, and peroxide conditions during forced degradation testing. The stability-indicating method developed effectively separated the degradation products formed during stress testing, underlining its effectiveness in stability testing and offering accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity in determining NMT.

Luliconazole: Stability-indicating LC method, structural elucidation of major degradation product by HRMS and in silico studies / Luliconazol: método por LC indicativo de estabilidad, elucidación estructural del producto de degradación mayoritario por HRMS y estudios in silico / Luliconazol: método LC indicativo de estabilidade, elucidação estrutural do principal produto de degradação por HRMS e estudos in sílico

SUMMARY Aim: A new stability-indicating liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of luliconazole. Materials and methods: Preliminary forced degradation study demonstrated an additional peak of the degradation product at the same retention time to the drug, due to this, the method was developed optimizing the chromatographic conditions to provide sufficient peak resolution (R ≥ 2). The experimental design was evaluated to assess the robustness and the best chromatographic conditions to be used for the validation. Methodology: Luliconazole solutions were exposed to various stress conditions to evaluate the method indication stability, in which the degradation product (DP-1) formed was isolated, identified, and evaluated in silico to predict degradation pathway and toxicity. The procedure was validated by robustness, selectivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. Liquid chromatography was performed in a Phenomenex® RP-18 column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.3% (v/v) triethylamine solution as a mobile phase in isocratic elution. Results and conclusions: The method demonstrated robustness, good recovery, precision, linear response over a range from 5.0 to 40.0 μg.mL-1- and to be stability indicating. The alkaline stress condition resulted in the formation of DP-1. HRMS studies identified this product as an hydroxyacetamide derivative, and in silico studies did not show toxic potential.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Un nuevo método indicativo de estabilidad por cromatografía líquida fue desarrollado y validado para la determinación cuantitativa de luliconazol. Materiales y métodos: Estudios preliminares de degradación forzada demostraron un pico adicional en el mismo tiempo de retención del fármaco. El método desarrollado para optimizar las condiciones cromatográicas proporcionó una adecuada resolución (R ≥ 2). El diseño experimental fue evaluado para verificar su robustez y la mejor condición cromatográica para validación. Metodología: Las soluciones de luliconazol fueron expuestas a diferentes condiciones de estrés para evaluar la indicación de estabilidad del método, el aislamiento del producto de degradación formado (DP-1), su identificación y análisis in silico para predecir su ruta de degradación y toxicidad. El procedimiento se validó por robustez, selectividad, linealidad, precisión y exactitud. Las condiciones cromatográficas incluyeron una columna Phenomenex® RP-18, como fase móvil una mezcla de acetonitrilo y solución 0,3% (v/v) de trietilamina en elución isocrática. Resultados y conclusiones: El método mostró ser robusto, con buena recuperación, precisión, respuesta lineal en el rango de 5,0 a 40,0 μg.mL-1 e indicativo de la estabilidad. La condición de estrés alcalina resultó en la formación de DP-1. Estudios por HRMS identificaron este producto como un derivado hidroxiacetamida y los estudios in silico no mostraron potencial de toxicidad.

RESUMO Objetivo: Um novo método indicativo de estabilidade por cromatograia líquida foi desenvolvido e validado para a determinação quantitativa de luliconazol. Materiais e métodos: Estudos preliminares de degradação forçada demonstraram um pico adicional no mesmo tempo de retenção do medicamento. O método desenvolvido para otimizar as condições cromatográficas proporcionou resolução adequada (R ≥ 2). O delineamento experimental foi avaliado para verificar sua robustez e a melhor condição cromatográica para validação. Metodologia: Soluções de luliconazol foram expostas a diferentes condições de estresse para avaliar a indicação da estabilidade do método, o isolamento do produto de degradação formado (DP-1), sua identificação e análise in silico para predizer sua rota de degradação e toxicidade. O procedimento foi validado quanto à robustez, seletividade, linearidade, precisão e exatidão. As condições cromatográficas incluíram uma coluna Phenomenex® RP-18, como fase móvel uma mistura de acetonitrila e solução de trietilamina 0,3% (v/v) em eluição isocrática. Resultados e conclusões: O método mostrou-se robusto, com boa recuperação, precisão, resposta linear na faixa de 5,0 a 40,0 μg.mL-1 e indicativo de estabilidade. A condição de estresse alcalino resultou na formação de DP-1. Os estudos da HRMS identificaram este produto como um derivado da hidroxiacetamida e os estudos in silico não mostraram nenhum potencial de toxicidade.

Stability-indicating HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of fluoroquinolone in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in pharmaceutical formulation

We developed and validated a stability-indicating assay method for the simultaneous determination of enrofloxacin and piroxicam in combination and in the presence of degradation products. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analyses were carried out on a Vertisep C18 column and acetonitrile-water (48:52 v/v, pH 3.0) mobile phase with a 1.00 mL min−1 flow rate. The efficient chromatographic separation of these drugs and their forced degradation products was achieved in less than 5min with a peak purity match factor higher than 950. The method used showed linearity in the concentration ranges of 0.25 to 16.0 µg mL−1 for enrofloxacin (r = 0.9997) and 0.125 to 8.0 µg mL−1 for piroxicam (r = 0.9999) as well as precision (relative standard deviation lower than 2%), accuracy (mean recovery 100 ± 2%), and robustness, according to ICH (International Conference on Harmonization) and AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) guidelines. This method can simultaneously determine the combination of these drugs in a veterinary formulation and separate the drug peaks from their forced degradation products. Additionally, its optimized chromatographic conditions can contribute to the quality control of this formulation in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants and minimize waste from the organic solvent.

Development and validation of a stability indicating HPLC method to determine diltiazem hydrochloride in tablets and compounded capsules

ABSTRACT A stability indicating HPLC method to determine diltiazem hydrochloride (DTZ) in tablets and compounded capsules was developed and validated according to Brazilian and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The separation was carried out on a Purospher Star® C18 (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle size, Merck Millipore) analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of a 0.05% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid aqueous solution and a 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid methanolic solution (44:56, v/v). The flow rate was 1.0 mL.min-1 with a run time of 14 minutes. The detection of DTZ and degradation products (DP) was performed at 240 nm, using a diode array detector. The method proved to be linear, precise, accurate, selective, and robust, and was adequate for stability studies and routine quality control analyses of DTZ in tablets and compounded capsules.

Desarrollo y validación de un método analítico indicativo de estabilidad por HPLC para la cuantificación de Rosuvastatina Cálcica / Development and validation of a stability indicating analytical HPLC method for the quantification of Rosuvastatin Calcium

En este trabajo, fue desarrollado y validado un método indicador de estabilidad por cromatografía líquida, para ser aplicado al estudio cinético de Rosuvastatina Cálcica en diferentes valores de pH y temperatura. Las condiciones cromatográficas seleccionadas fueron: columna C18, 50 x 4.6 mm y 3,5 µm de tamaño de partícula; fase móvil MeOH: Agua-0.1%TFA, temperatura de la columna de la columna 25 ° C, y velocidad de flujo 1 mL/min. El método validado presentó una adecuada repetibilidad y precisión intermedia y una recuperación superior al 98%. Por otra parte, el método fue lineal en el rango de 10 a 150 ppm. En condiciones ácidas, fueron identificados tres posibles productos de degradación como: Rosuvastatina Lactona, Rosuvastatina Anti-isómero y Rosuvastatina Lactona Anti-isómero y en condiciones de degradación con la luz se identificaron dos posibles productos mayoritarios. El método validado puede ser empleado en estudios de estabilidad y de degradación cinética del fármaco.

In this work, a liquid chromatography stability-indicating method was development and validated to be applied at study the hydrolytic behavior of Rosuvastatin Calcium in different pH values and temperatures. The selected chromatographic conditions were a column C18 50 x 4.6 mm and 3.5 µm. The mobile phase was Methanol: Water-1%TFA; 25°C column temperature and flow rate 1 mL/min. The validation method exhibited an adequate repeatability and intermediate precision and a recovery higher than 98%. Furthermore, the method was lineal in range of 10 to 150 ppm. Under acidic conditions, three degradation products possible were identified as Rosuvastatin lactone, Rosuvastatin anti-isomer and Rosuvastatin lactone anti-isomer, with light were identified two major decomposition products. The validated method can be used in the stability studies and drug degradation kinetics.

Desenvolvimento de metodologias indicativas de estabilidade para medicamentos que atuam no diabetes mellitus tipo II / Development of stability indicating methods for drugs that are used in diabetes mellitus 2

O diabetes mellitus (DM) é uma síndrome na qual o metabolismo de hidratos de carbono, gorduras e proteínas está alterado, por falta de secreção de insulina ou por diminuição da sensibilidade tissular a este hormônio. O DM pode ser do tipo I, também denominado diabetes mellitus insulinodependente (DMID), caracterizado pela falta de secreção da insulina, e do tipo II, também denominado diabetes mellitus não insulinodependente (DMNID), caracterizado pela menor sensibilidade dos tecidos efetores às ações metabólicas da insulina. Embora ainda não haja cura definitiva, há vários tratamentos disponíveis que proporcionam qualidade de vida para o paciente portador, como a administração de hipoglicemiantes orais. Nesta pesquisa, objetivou-se desenvolver métodos indicativos de estabilidade para a glibenclamida e o cloridrato de metformina. Assim, foram desenvolvidos métodos de rastreamento ortogonais utilizando a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC) e a eletroforese capilar (CE), metodologias que foram desafiadas com os estudos da degradação forçada. Realizou-se, também, a identificação do principal produto de degradação da glibenclamida utilizando a cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massa (LC-MS). O método por HPLC teve o melhor desempenho no monitoramento dos produtos de degradação da glibenclamida, apresentando boa linearidade nas concentrações entre 0,210 e 0,360 mg/mL; com coeficiente de correlação maior de 0,99. A precisão calculada como desvio padrão relativo (DPR) foi menor de 3%, exatidão do método comprovada mediante teste de recuperação, obtendo-se valores de 100±3,0%. No teste de especificidade, foram detectados três potenciais produtos de degradação, com os seguintes tempos de retenção relativos (TRR) de 0,33; 0,46 e 0,83. O método CZE teve o melhor desempenho no monitoramento dos produtos de degradação do cloridrato de metformina, apresentando boa linearidade nas concentrações entre 0,210 e 0,360 mg/mL, com coeficiente de...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome which alters the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins by lack of insulin secretion or a decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin. Type 1 DM is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by lack of insulin secretion. The second type of diabetes known as Type II, also called non-insulin dependent, is characterized by the reduced sensitivity of target tissues to the metabolic actions of insulin. Although there is no definitive cure, there are several treatments available that provide quality of life for the patient how treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents. This study had as objective to developed stability-indicating methods for glibenclamide and metformin hydrochloride. Thus, the techniques used in this study involved high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), and both were challenged with forced degradation studies. The identification of degradation products of glibenclamide was also performed, utilizing the mass spectrometry (MS) technique. However, the HPLC technique had the best performance for monitoring the degradation products of glibenclamide, which showed a good linearity in concentrations between 0.210 - 0.360 mg/ml, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The precision was calculated as a relative standard deviation (RSD) which was less than 3%; the accuracy of the method calculated as the percent recovery was obtained with the following values: 100 ± 3.0%. On the specificity were detected three potential products of degradation utilizing forced degradation, with the following relative retention times (RRT) 0.33, 0.46 and 0.83. The CZE method had the best performance to monitoring the degradation products of metformin hydrochloride, which showed good linearity of concentrations between 0.210 and 0.360 mg/ml, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The intra-day and inter-day precision calculated as DPR was less than...