Back to Explorer

Q8(R2) Pharmaceutical Development

FinalCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research11/20/2009
GMPQuality Target Product ProfileCritical Quality AttributeCritical Process ParameterQuality Risk ManagementControl StrategyProduct Lifecycle ManagementQuality by DesignDesign SpaceProcess Analytical TechnologyProcess ValidationCritical Quality AttributesReal Time Release Testing

Description

This guidance is a revision of the ICH guidance Q8 Pharmaceutical Development (Q8 parent guidance) that published in May 2006. In June 2009, the Q8 parent guidance was revised to add an annex, which provides further clarification of the key concepts outlined in the May 2006 guidance and describes the principles of quality by design (QbD). The Q8(R1) document issued in June 2009 includes the Q8 parent guidance and the annex. This second revision, Q8(R2), provides corrected captions for figures 2a and 2b in Appendix 2, section C.

Key Topics

Terms and concepts identified from this document

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

3
Solid Oral Dosage Forms

Subject of the minor changes guidance

Tablet

affect the dissolution rate of a tablet

Drug Product

RTRT and CTD sections apply to drug products

Stakeholders

1
Applicant

Entity submitting development data and knowledge; Entity performing the work process for change

Regulatory Context

Regulatory Activities

4
Regulatory Submission

Stability package provided to support re-test period or shelf life; Initial filing requiring stability data; Initial filing where photostability information is required; Stability data provided with the regulatory submission; Where stability models and risk management descriptions are provided

Regulatory Postapproval Change Process

Initiated by movement out of the design space

Marketing Application

Submission for product approval

Postapproval Change Process

outside the design space would normally initiate a regulatory postapproval change process

Document Types

2
Common Technical Document

Format for submitting development information; Module 3 of the CTD for detailed descriptions of analytical procedures; ICH guideline M4Q(R1) for the registration of pharmaceuticals.

3.2.P.2 Pharmaceutical Development

Section of the CTD providing understanding of product and process

Attributes

10
Microbiological Attributes

Attributes of the drug product to be considered during development

Moisture Content

The end point for moisture content is 1-2%

Friability

Quality characteristic impacting tablet performance

Dissolution

Release of the drug substance from the intact or chewed tablets

Material Attributes

Process inputs used to describe the design space.; measured material attributes used in real time release testing

Particle Size Distribution

A measurement of the relative proportion of particles in a sample as a function of size.

Critical Quality Attributes

Physical, chemical, biological, or microbiological properties

Proven Acceptable Ranges

Characterization of process parameters; Characterized ranges for process parameters.

Critical Process Parameters

identify any critical process parameters that should be monitored or controlled

Quality Target Product Profile

QTPP impact should be considered in life cycle management.

Technical Details

Substances

2
Drug Substance

Postapproval changes to drug substances; the active pharmaceutical ingredient being modified; Evaluation of physical properties for drug substance; Active ingredient intended to furnish pharmacological activity; The molecule or ion responsible for the physiological or pharmacological action.; The active pharmaceutical ingredient subject to postapproval changes

Excipients

Differences in excipients may affect product stability

Testing Methods

10
Dissolution

Part of stability testing parameters

Failure Mode Effects Analysis

Risk management method and tool (FMEA); A recognized risk management tool (FMEA).; FMEA provides for an evaluation of potential failure modes for processes and their likely effect on outcomes.

Design of Experiments

multivariate experiments used to investigate parameter interactions; Systematic method to determine the relationship between factors affecting a process.; Supporting justification of acceptable ranges.

Continuous Process Verification

Enhanced approach to validation in lifecycle management

Near Infrared Assay

Used for unit dose uniformity in-process testing.

Bioequivalence

studies available to validate the EDDO specifications

Formal Experimental Design

structured method for determining relationships between factors and output; design space can be explained mathematically through equations describing relationships between parameters

Antimicrobial Preservative Effectiveness Test

used to demonstrate effectiveness of preservative systems

Microbial Limits Testing

performed for non-sterile drug products

Real-Time Release Testing

Process monitoring for therapeutic proteins

Processes

7
Formulation Development

Scientific considerations for pediatric drug development; Developing appropriate formulations for each age group under PREA

Granulation

Design space for granulation parameters

Drying

Drying the drug substance (e.g., changing from vacuum tray dryer to fluid bed dryer)

Lyophilization

Physical modification that does not result in chemical alteration.; A process that does not typically chemically alter an ingredient

Manufacturing Process Development

A key element of the pharmaceutical development section

Sterilization

Required for contaminated equipment and media before disposal

Continuous Process Verification

alternative approach to process validation

Identified Hazards

Hazards

3
Microbial Contamination

Risk associated with tattoo inks that can lead to infection.; Risk associated with insanitary conditions in tattoo ink preparation

Particle Attrition

operating below the lower limit of the design space can result in excessive particle attrition

Impurity Formation

Operating above the upper limit of the design space can cause excessive impurity formation

Standards & References

External Standards

1
PAT tools

Process Analytical Technology tools utilized in enhanced approaches

Specifications

6
Quality Target Product Profile

An element of pharmaceutical development; prospective summary of the quality characteristics of a drug product

Critical Quality Attribute

Volume is identified as a CQA in the manufacturing example

Proven Acceptable Range

PAR established through univariate examination of a single parameter; Characterized range of an analytical procedure parameter resulting in meeting performance criteria.; Change of one or several parameters outside the already proven acceptable ranges.

Acceptance Criteria

limits for solid state form and particle size; Tightening acceptance criteria; Numerical limits or ranges for tests

Design Space

scientific understanding to support the establishment of the design space; multidimensional combination of input variables and process parameters

Drug Product Specification

Attributes typically associated with the drug substance quality are generally included in the drug product specification

ICH References (7)

ICH Q8(R2)

Pharmaceutical Development

ICH Q8

Principles of Quality by Design described within ICH Q8-Q11.; Pharmaceutical development guidance; Pharmaceutical development and CQA measurement during processing; Defines product lifecycle phases; Referenced for Critical Quality Attributes (CQA); Pharmaceutical Development.; General principles related to model development, validation and verification; Principles described in ICH Q8 apply to stability models; Pharmaceutical Development guideline mentioned regarding enhanced level of understandi

ICH M4

Organization of the Common Technical Document; Organization of the Common Technical Document for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use

ICH Q9

Quality Risk Management recommended for combination products

ICH Q6A

Referenced regarding specifications and solid state forms.

ICH Q6B

Specifications for biotechnological/biological products; Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Biotechnological/Biological Products

ICH Q10

Pharmaceutical Quality System

Related MFDS Guidelines

Korean regulatory guidelines covering similar topics

See Also (8)