Subvisible (2-100 µm) particle analysis during biotherapeutic drug product development: Part 2, experience with the application of subvisible particle analysis.

Measurement and characterization of subvisible particles (including proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous particulate matter) is an important aspect of the pharmaceutical development process for biotherapeutics. Health authorities have increased expectations for subvisible particle data beyond criteria specified in the pharmacopeia and covering a wider size range. In addition, subvisible particle data is being requested for samples exposed to various stress conditions and to support process/product changes. Consequently, subvisible particle analysis has expanded beyond routine testing of finished dosage forms using traditional compendial methods. Over the past decade, advances have been made in the detection and understanding of subvisible particle formation. This article presents industry case studies to illustrate the implementation of strategies for subvisible particle analysis as a characterization tool to assess the nature of the particulate matter and applications in drug product development, stability studies and post-marketing changes.

Subvisible (2-100 µm) Particle Analysis During Biotherapeutic Drug Product Development: Part 1, Considerations and Strategy.

Measurement and characterization of subvisible particles (defined here as those ranging in size from 2 to 100 µm), including proteinaceous and nonproteinaceous particles, is an important part of every stage of protein therapeutic development. The tools used and the ways in which the information generated is applied depends on the particular product development stage, the amount of material, and the time available for the analysis. In order to compare results across laboratories and products, it is important to harmonize nomenclature, experimental protocols, data analysis, and interpretation. In this manuscript on perspectives on subvisible particles in protein therapeutic drug products, we focus on the tools available for detection, characterization, and quantification of these species and the strategy around their application.

Global regulatory standards for the approval of biosimilars.

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which contains the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act. Biosimilars have an important role in the United States health care system, and this new law creates an abbreviated approval pathway for biosimilar products in the U.S. A biosimilar is a biologic product demonstrated to be highly similar to an approved innovator biologic product ("reference product"). While the law provides general information on the standards to demonstrate biosimilarity, Congress has authorized the FDA to define the scientific standards and content of biosimilar applications. There is an increasing global interest in the development of biosimilar products, and several regulatory authorities around the world, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), have established regulatory guidelines for the approval of biosimilars. The scientific standards and requirements in the biosimilar guidelines of the WHO and other health authorities, including the European Union, Canada, Japan, and South Africa, are reviewed in this paper. The similarities as well as the differences among the policies adopted by these regulatory authorities may provide the FDA valuable information as the agency develops its standards and approaches for the approval of biosimilars in the U.S. At the same time, while establishing such approaches, the FDA has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in addressing significant safety and other issues related to multi-source biologics and biosimilars that remain a global challenge.