Blog: Regulatory

Drug Companies Cited Over Lack of Stability Testing

The US FDA provides a comprehensive public record of the citations and warning letters [1] issued to Pharmaceutical Companies. This provides an excellent resource for those looking for guidance to improve quality and mitigate risk.

8th October 2020

Stability Shelf Life Example 18months 200x120
  • Stability FDA Warning Letters

The US FDA provides a comprehensive public record of the citations and warning letters [1] issued to Pharmaceutical Companies. This provides an excellent resource for those looking for guidance to improve quality and mitigate risk.

Warning Letters and Citations on the Rise

In the 2019 Fiscal year 81 warning letters were issued, the most in recent history, continuing the upward trend of the previous years.

  • Stability FDA Citations

Over the same period the number of inspection observations (known as form 483 citations) has also increased:

Blog: Regulatory

Stability Testing QC Issues on the Rise

  • Stability Mentions In FDA Warning Letters

Approximately one in five warning letters in 2018 and 2019 mentioned 21 CFR Part 211 section 166 (Stability Testing) and again the number of warning letters citing this part of the regulations appears to be on the rise.

  • Stability Workflow
    Typical Stability Workflow Screen for Stability Study Programs

Stability testing has a key role in managing drug safety and efficacy. The results of stability testing are used to determine the appropriate storage conditions and expiration dates of pharmaceutical products. Because full shelf life data can take years to collect 21 CFR 211.116 allows for accelerated studies to be used to predict shelf life while full shelf life studies are being conducted.

Stability Testing in the Matrix Gemini Pharmaceutical LIMS

The Matrix Gemini Pharmaceutical LIMS includes a stability module to manage shelf life studies for both real-time and accelerated stability projects. The stability module simplifies management of the many different study protocols and batches that create large amounts of data over time.

  • Stability Shelf Life Example 18months

Protocols are designed that define the storage conditions and storage times over which the stability of the product will be measured. In addition, the protocol defines whether the storage conditions need to be cycled, how often product must be pulled from storage for testing, how much must be pulled and the tests that will be performed on those pulled samples.

Product samples from each batch are put into storage, according to the protocols required, and pulled for testing at the appropriate times. Once testing is complete and analytical results verified the results may be pooled and used to derive shelf life.

The above example shows pooled data from 6 different batches, providing a predicted product shelf life of 18 months.

Defendable Data Framework

The stability module within Matrix Gemini Pharmaceutical LIMS provides the framework for manufacturers to demonstrate that they meet the stringent requirements of FDA 21 CFR 211.166 including:

  1. Sample size and test intervals based on statistical criteria for each attribute examined to assure valid estimates of stability
  2. Storage conditions for samples retained for testing
  3. Reliable, meaningful, and specific test methods
  4. Testing of the drug product in the same container-closure system as that in which the drug product is marketed
  5. Testing of drug products for reconstitution at the time of dispensing (as directed in the labeling) as well as after they are reconstituted

The stability module is part of the Matrix Gemini integrated pharmaceutical LIMS solution. In addition, it is available as a stand-alone product if all the features of a fully integrated LIMS are not required. If you are involved in stability testing and would like more information on our stability module then please contact Autoscribe Informatics.

References:

  1. List of FDA Citations
    https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/inspection-references/inspection-citation
  2. List of FDA Warning Letters
    https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/compliance-actions-and-activities/warning-letters
  3. ECA: FDA Warning Letter Analysis (Oct18-Sep19)
    https://www.gmp-compliance.or...
  4. FDA Group: 2019 FDA Warning Letter Trends
    https://www.thefdagroup.com/bl...
  5. Pharmaceutical Online: FDA FY2019 Drug Inspection Trends
    https://www.pharmaceuticalonli...