How can pharmaceutical firms match new regulatory guidelines for process validation?
The new guidelines on process validation in Current Goods Manufacturing Processes (cGMP) issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are expected to result in:
The best ways pharmaceutical firms can match the new FDA guidelines, according to Michael R. Goodman, compliance specialist, Compliance Insight, is by:
For example, designing process validation, qualifying equipment, and performing an initial process validation is crucial. These steps should be taken at the very start of the first phase of a clinical trial.
Pharmaceutical firms must also define operating range by adopting a parameter and range assessment research study. The aims of this study would be to define the acceptable range, defining the critical steps, and separating critical crucial to successful scale-up. Transparency in research would reduce need for tech-transfer verification at collaborator or contract-manufacturing level. Pharmaceutical firms are recommended to take up the fragmented, life-cycle approach to process validations.
The FDA recommends that pharmaceutical manufacturing companies take up risk-based analysis of each piece of equipment and facility to increase the certainty of the process and analytical results, according to Goodman. This can be done according to the following guidelines:
The goal should be to choose equipment that offers maximum accuracy and efficiency.
It is recommended that pharmaceutical firms complete at least three consecutive batches for validation. Emphasis should be on avoiding cross-contamination possibly by dedicating one production line to one single product though most companies would not be able to do so. Instead, they should set some acceptable health-based limits on carryover from one production line to another. These limits can be set for pharmacological and toxicological data on the last product or cleaning agent used.
Also, pharmaceutical firms must monitor and regulate dependence upon CMOs €" contract-manufacturing companies €" which has been on the increase. Strict audit of CMOs is recommended.
- Stricter process and quality controls
- Broad-based adoption of PAT (process analytical technologies) that include three key tools - multivariate data acquisition and analysis, process analyzers, and process controls with control strategy for raw materials and supply chain
- Focus on public safety
- Increase in collaborations, alliances, consolidation within the industry
The best ways pharmaceutical firms can match the new FDA guidelines, according to Michael R. Goodman, compliance specialist, Compliance Insight, is by:
- Implementing modern concepts in pharmaceutical development like the Quality-by-design validation process
- Ensuring quality risk management at all levels
- Ensuring quality systems at all stages of the manufacturing process life cycle
For example, designing process validation, qualifying equipment, and performing an initial process validation is crucial. These steps should be taken at the very start of the first phase of a clinical trial.
Pharmaceutical firms must also define operating range by adopting a parameter and range assessment research study. The aims of this study would be to define the acceptable range, defining the critical steps, and separating critical crucial to successful scale-up. Transparency in research would reduce need for tech-transfer verification at collaborator or contract-manufacturing level. Pharmaceutical firms are recommended to take up the fragmented, life-cycle approach to process validations.
The FDA recommends that pharmaceutical manufacturing companies take up risk-based analysis of each piece of equipment and facility to increase the certainty of the process and analytical results, according to Goodman. This can be done according to the following guidelines:
- Check on whether normal operations have direct impact on quality
- Equipment tolerance factors
- Check on interaction between in-process material, the systems material, and the material of which the equipment is made
The goal should be to choose equipment that offers maximum accuracy and efficiency.
It is recommended that pharmaceutical firms complete at least three consecutive batches for validation. Emphasis should be on avoiding cross-contamination possibly by dedicating one production line to one single product though most companies would not be able to do so. Instead, they should set some acceptable health-based limits on carryover from one production line to another. These limits can be set for pharmacological and toxicological data on the last product or cleaning agent used.
Also, pharmaceutical firms must monitor and regulate dependence upon CMOs €" contract-manufacturing companies €" which has been on the increase. Strict audit of CMOs is recommended.