Statistical approaches to determine analytical variability and specifications: application of experimental design and variance component analysis.

Assessment of analytical variability is recognized as an important factor for the establishment of specifications. Estimation of the variance for an analytical procedure can be accomplished using a variety of approaches. The approach of variance component analysis was applied retrospectively, as well as prospectively, to estimate analytical variance. The prospective approach also included the use of experimental design. Recent new drug substance examples illustrating these approaches are presented. In these examples, the analytical property of potency was evaluated. Factors examined in the experimental design include laboratory, day, analyst, instrument and column. Process variability can also be determined by variance component analysis. For a stable drug substance, combining the analytical and process variances provides an estimate on the total variance for the analytical property of potency. With the total variability statistically derived, an appropriate specification that is consistent with process and analytical capability can be established.

The interactions of superoxide ion(O2-.) with metallo-porphyrins [(C1(8)TPP)M, M = Fe,Mn,Co Zn]; models for biological systems and superoxide dismutases.

In dimethylformamide superoxide ion forms a 1:1 adduct with tetrakis (2,6-dichlorophenyl) porphinato-iron, (C1(8)TPP)FeOO-, as well as with its manganese analogue, (C1(8)TPP)MnOO-. On the basis of their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and magnetic properties these adducts have a metal-oxygen covalent bond (PorM-OO-), oxygen-centered redox chemistry, and reactivities that are similar to the hydroperoxide ion (HOO-). Addition of -OH to a solution of PorFe and O2 results in the formation of PorFe(OH)(OO-), which can be electrochemically oxidized to PorFeOH plus O2 (-0.2 V vs SCE). Addition of protons to the PorM-OO- adducts promotes their rapid decomposition to PorM, HOOH, and O2. This chemistry provides insight to the reactions of biological superoxide and superoxide dismutases.

Influence of peroxide impurities in povidone and crospovidone on the stability of raloxifene hydrochloride in tablets: identification and control of an oxidative degradation product.

The purpose of this study was to identify a degradation product in a tablet formulation of raloxifene hydrochloride (R-HCl), delineate the role of excipients in its formation, and develop a rational strategy for its control. The degradant was identified as an N-oxide derivative of the drug substance based upon spectroscopic characterization and chromatographic comparison to the synthetic N-oxide. To identify the factors contributing to the formation of N-oxide, binary mixtures of each excipient with R-HCl were exposed to 125 degrees C in open containers. Raloxifene hydrochloride underwent an order of magnitude increase in conversion to the N-oxide in the presence of two excipients, povidone and crospovidone, as compared with its conversion in the presence of other excipients. To confirm a hypothesis that peroxide impurities in these two excipients contributed to the oxidation of the drug substance, tablet lots were spiked with quantities of H2O2 equivalent to 200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm peroxide over the intrinsic levels present in povidone and crospovidone. A strong correlation was observed between the total peroxide level and the quantity of the N-oxide formed upon accelerated storage. From these experiments a rational limit test for peroxide content in povidone and crospovidone was adopted as part of a control strategy to limit formation of the degradation product.