8/21/2017

Q&A on ICH Q7 – Good Manufacturing Practice

Questions and Answers Document

March 2017

International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements

for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use
1

ICH Q7 - Questions & Answers Document

Legal Notice
•This presentation is protected by copyright and may be used, reproduced,
incorporated into other works, adapted, modified, translated or distributed under a
public license provided that ICH's copyright in the presentation is acknowledged at all
times. In case of any adaption, modification or translation of the presentation,
reasonable steps must be taken to clearly label, demarcate or otherwise identify that
changes were made to or based on the original presentation. Any impression that the
adaption, modification or translation of the original presentation is endorsed or
sponsored by the ICH must be avoided.
•The presentation is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. In no event shall
the ICH or the authors of the original presentation be liable for any claim, damages or
other liability arising from the use of the presentation.
•The above-mentioned permissions do not apply to content supplied by third parties.
Therefore, for documents where the copyright vests in a third party, permission for
reproduction must be obtained from this copyright holder.

1
 8/21/2017

ICH Q7 - Questions & Answers Document

Outline
• Background and Objectives
• Development process
• Scope/ Content
• Regulatory implementation
• Key message
• Summary

Background and Objectives

Importance of the ICH Q7 Guideline

• First internationally harmonized Good Manufacturing
Practice (GMP) guidance developed jointly by industry
and regulators under the ICH umbrella
• Finalized November 2000 and adopted by most major
Health Authorities including WHO
• Establishes one global GMP guideline for Active
Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (APIs)
• Intended to facilitate API inspections
• Important to international cooperative regulation of API
manufacturing
4

2
 8/21/2017

Background and Objectives

Why an ICH Q7 Q&A Document?

• ICH Q7 was published in 2000
o API manufacturing technology and practices have
evolved since then
o Good Distribution Practice (GDP) for API was included
in ICH Q7
• API supply chains are global and complex
• Currently, many different health authorities regulate
and/or inspect API manufacturers
• Regulators continue to find significant GMP deficiencies
during API inspections
5

Development process

ICH procedure
• ICH recommends a Q&A document when clarification is
needed to aid interpretation of ICH guidelines
• Concept Paper is endorsed by ICH Steering Committee
• Implementation Working Group (IWG) is formed
• Q&As are based on issues for clarification raised by
stakeholders as summarized in the Concept Paper

3
 8/21/2017

Development process

Agreed Scope
• ICH Q7 Q&A – is a ‘what to do’ document
o Desired Product: One harmonized Q&A document
o Address/clarify issues raised in Concept Paper, including:
- Distribution of APIs (GDP)
- Agents, Traders, Distributors responsibilities
- Contractor/supplier management (outsourcing)
- Quality management systems (QMS) practices including the
impact of Q8/Q11, Q9, Q10
- Manufacturing APIs for use in clinical trials
- Applicability of Q7 to biologicals/biotech & relationship to Q5D
o Address one issue at a time
- Clear, concise answers
- Reference Q7 sections or other ICH documents, as appropriate
7

Development process

Discrimination criteria
• ICH Q7 Q&A document does NOT:
o Explain ‘How to do’
o Simply restate text already available in ICH Q7
o Enlarge the scope of ICH Q7
o Address questions that are too narrow or specific to be
of widespread interest or importance
o Establish new requirements
o Address issues specific to a region or jurisdiction
o Address issues that are outdated or otherwise irrelevant

4
 8/21/2017

Development process

Work Plan & Deliverables

• Questions were obtained from various sources
o Including existing Q&As from the PIC/S API Expert Circle,
PDA/ Regulatory training 2002
o Survey of constituencies for issues needing clarification
conducted by the ICH Q7 IWG Feb.- Mar. 2013
• The ICH Q7 - IWG
o Evaluated about 200 questions and suggested answers
o Consolidated, drafted, revised Q&As as needed
o 5 face-to-face meetings and several regional and
worldwide teleconferences
o Consensus on 55 Q&As achieved on April 20, 2015 9

Development process

ICH Q7 Q&A
Development
Process:
From Concept
Paper to Final
Step 4 Document

DRAFT

5
 8/21/2017

Development process

Development Timeline

11

Development process

Step 4 – Adoption of Q7 Q&A Document

• The Step 4 ICH harmonised document was posted to ICH
website (www.ich.org) on 10 June 2015
o Total of 55 Q&As
- Questions cover all sections of ICH Q7 except Section 9
(Packaging and Identification Labelling of APIs/ Intermediates)
- ICH Q7 sections with the most Q&As were:
• Quality Management
• Materials Management
• Process Equipment
• Laboratory Controls
- Q&As include references to other ICH guidelines, including to
Q8, Q9, Q10 and Q11 which were established after Q7 was
finalised in 2000.
12

6
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

55 Q&As by Section
ICH Section Q&As ICH Section Q&As
1 – INTRODUCTION 2 11 – LABORATORY CONTROLS 5

2 – QUALITY MANAGEMENT 6 12 – VALIDATION 4

3 – PERSONNEL 2 13 – CHANGE CONTROL 1

4 – BUILDINGS & FACILITIES 2 14 – REJECTION & REUSE OF 3

MATERIALS
5 – PROCESS EQUIPMENT 5
15 – COMPLAINTS & RECALLS 2
6 – DOCUMENTATION & RECORDS 3
16 – CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS 3
7 – MATERIALS MANAGEMENT 6
17 – AGENTS . . . RELABELLERS 4
8 – PRODUCTION & IN-PROCESS 2
CONTROLS 18 – APIs MANUFACTURED BY CELL 2
CULTURE/FERMENTATION
9 – PACKAGING & ID LABELLING 0
OF APIs & INTERMEDIATES 19 – APIs FOR CLINICAL TRIALS 1

10 – STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION 1 20 – GLOSSARY 1

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
Examples of issues addressed in Q&A document:
1. Introduction - Scope
• Manufacturing steps before the defined ‘API starting
material’
• Manufacturing steps for the addition of substance(s) to an
API (e.g. to stabilize the API)

2. Quality Management
• Responsibility and independence of quality unit(s) and
performing sampling and API release testing
• Frequency of a product quality review and trend analysis

14

7
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
3. Personnel
• Periodical assessment of training
• Delegation of tasks and/or responsibility to a consultant
4. Buildings and Facilities - Containment
• The use of Quality Risk Management to prevent cross-
contamination (e.g dedicated production areas)

5. Process Equipment - Cleaning

• ‘Visually clean’ and visual examination
• Acceptance criteria for residues in dedicated equipment
and confirmation of time limits in cleaning validation
15

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
6. Documentation and Records
• Clarifying the meaning of ‘completely distributed’
• Sequential batch numbering system and issuance of batch
production records

7. Materials Management
• ‘Grouping of containers’ and ‘identity tests’
• Qualification of suppliers of materials, ‘full analysis’ on
batches of raw materials and on-site audits
• Expiry date and retest date of a raw material

16

8
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
8. Production and In-Process Controls
• Yield ranges and ‘appropriate specifications prior to
blending’

9. Packaging and Identification Labelling of

APIs and Intermediates
• No question

10. Storage and Distribution

• Transfer under quarantine to another unit under the
company’s control
17

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
11. Laboratory Controls
• Impurities for APIs (extracted from herbal or animal tissue
origin)
• Change in API test methods for ongoing stability studies
• Extending an API retest date
• ‘Completely distributed’ as it relates to reserve/retention
samples
• Packaging system for reserve/retention samples
12. Validation
• Retrospective and Lifecycle approach to validation
• Expanding the range of a process parameters
• Process validation and change in the source of an API
starting material 18

9
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
13. Change Control
• Notification of drug manufacturers (customers) about
relevant API manufacturing changes

14. Rejection and Reuse of Materials

• Storage of rejected materials
• Reprocessing or reworking of an expired API
• Recovery of material from mother liquor

15. Complaints and Recalls

• Quality defects of released APIs versus complaint
• Return versus recall
19

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
16. Contract Manufacturers (including Laboratories)
• Responsibilities
• Outsourced activities and subcontracting

17. Agents, Brokers, Traders, Distributors,

Repackers, and Relabellers
• Clarifying the meaning of ‘Agents, brokers, traders,
distributors, repackers, or relabellers’
• Distributors as contract manufacturer for production steps
• Replacement of the original label
• Original manufacturer
20

10
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

Clarification of Uncertainties
18. Specific Guidance for APIs Manufactured
by Cell Culture/Fermentation
• Validation for viral removal/viral inactivation steps
• Applicability to classical fermentation and biotechnology

19. APIs for Use in Clinical Trials

• Equipment for pre-clinical and clinical materials

20. Glossary
• Terminology ‘deviation’ versus ‘non-conformance’

21

Scope/ Content

ICH Q7 Q&A Document – Annex

Q&As are cross-referenced to Q7 sections & other ICH Guidelines

22

11
 8/21/2017

Scope/ Content

ICH Guidelines referenced in Q7 Q&A

• ICH E2E Pharmacovigilance Planning, Nov. 2004
• ICH Q1A Stability Testing of New Drug Substances and Products, Feb. 2003
• ICH Q5A Quality of Biotechnological Products: Viral Safety Evaluation of Biotechnology
Products Derived from Cell Lines of Human or Animal Origin, Sept. 1999
• ICH Q5B Quality of Biotechnological Products: Analysis of the Construct in Cells Used for
the Production of r-DNA Derived Protein Products, Nov. 2005
• ICH Q5D Quality of Biotechnological Products: Derivation and Characterization of Cell
Substrates Used for Production of Biotechnological/Biological Products, Jul.
1997
• ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for
Biotechnological/Biological Products, Mar. 1999
• ICH Q7 Good Manufacturing Practice for APIs, Nov. 2000
• ICH Q8(R2) Pharmaceutical Development, Aug. 2009; Part I: ‘Pharmaceutical Development’,
Nov. 2006; Part II: ‘Annex to Pharmaceutical Development’, Nov. 2008.
• ICH Q9 Quality Risk Management, Nov. 2005; and the ICH Q9 Briefing pack
• ICH Q10 Pharmaceutical Quality Systems, Jun. 2008
• ICH Q11 Development and Manufacture of Drug Substances, May 2012

23

Regulatory implementation

Step 5–Regulatory Implementation

• Final step in the ICH harmonisation process
• Carried out using the same national/regional procedures
as for other regional regulatory guidelines
• ICH harmonized guidelines are widely used, including in
the European Union, Japan, USA, Canada, Switzerland,
Australia, South Korea, Brazil and beyond
• ICH Q&A document may be posted on the official
Websites of regulatory bodies that adopt them for use
(e.g., EMA, MHLW/PMDA, FDA, Health Canada) as well
as international organisations (e.g. PIC/S, WHO, …)

24

12
 8/21/2017

Key message

Key Message of the ICH Q7 Q&A

ICH Q7
2001

Q&A
2015

Read and implement existing guidelines 25

ICH Q7 - Questions & Answers Document

Summary
• Experience gained with the implementation of the ICH
Q7 Guideline since its finalisation in 2000 shows that
uncertainties related to the interpretation of some
sections exist.
• Technical issues with regard to GMP of APIs – also in
context with new ICH Guidelines - are addressed in this
Question and Answer document in order to:
o Harmonize expectations during inspections,
o Eliminate ambiguities and uncertainties
o Harmonize the inspections of both small molecules
and biotech APIs. 26

13