Guidelines for Stability Evaluation of Drug-Excipient Mixtures
1) Purpose
The purpose of this SOP is to provide guidelines for evaluating the stability of drug-excipient mixtures. Drug-excipient interactions can impact the stability, efficacy, and safety of the final pharmaceutical product. This SOP aims to establish a standardized method for assessing these interactions over time.
2) Scope
This SOP applies to all drug-excipient mixtures used in the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products within the organization. It is relevant for all product types, including solid, liquid, and semi-solid formulations.
3) Responsibilities
Formulation Development Team: Responsible for designing the stability study and
Analytical Team: Responsible for conducting stability tests and recording results.
QA Department: Responsible for reviewing and approving the stability protocol and final report.
4) Procedure
4.1 Study Design:
- Select the drug and excipients to be tested based on formulation requirements and regulatory guidelines.
- Define the storage conditions and time points for testing based on the drug’s intended use and shelf life.
- Develop a study protocol outlining the analytical methods and acceptance criteria.
4.2 Sample Preparation:
- Prepare samples of the drug-excipient mixture using the standard manufacturing process.
- Label samples with batch numbers, storage conditions, and sampling time points.
- Store samples in stability chambers under specified conditions.
4.3 Testing Schedule:
- Conduct initial testing to establish baseline data for the mixture.
- Perform follow-up testing at defined intervals to monitor changes in physical and chemical properties.
- Record all data in stability study records and analyze for trends.
4.4 Data Analysis and Reporting:
- Evaluate data against predefined acceptance criteria to assess the impact of drug-excipient interactions.
- Prepare a final report summarizing the study findings and recommendations for formulation optimization.
- Submit the report to the QA department for review and approval.
5) Abbreviations, if any
QA: Quality Assurance
6) Documents, if any
Stability Protocol Document: Outline of the study design and methodology.
Analytical Test Records: Data sheets for all analytical tests performed.
7) Reference, if any
ICH Q1E: Evaluation of Stability Data
8) SOP Version
Version 1.0