Dissolution

Lynda Paleshnuik

Training workshop: Training workshop on regulatory requirements for registration of Artemisinin based combined medicines and
.assessment of data submitted to regulatory authorities, February 23-27, 2009, Kampala, Uganda
 Overview

 Starting Point: Establishing Dissolution Criteria

– ACT Monograph Availability in the International Pharmacopeia
– Availability of other Pharmacopeial Monographs

 Disintegration vs Dissolution

 Prequalification Dissolution Requirements

 Development Strategy for Dissolution Methods

 Validation of Dissolution Methods

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 Dissolution - Introduction

The pharmaceutical scientist would like to find a relationship

between an in vitro characteristic of a dosage form, and its in vivo
performance.

Disintegration was originally thought to be this characteristic. The

USP introduced its disintegration test in 1950.

With advances in methodology, the disintegration test was found to

be too insensitive, and dissolution test methods were introduced in
the USP in 1968.

Dissolution is principally useful as a QC test. It can be predictive of

in vivo behaviour, but this must be demonstrated by an in-vivo in-
vitro correlation study (IVIVC).

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 Dissolution - Introduction

USP <1088>:

“No product, including suspensions and chewable tablets, should

be developed without dissolution or drug release characterization
where a solid phase exists.”

and

“Dissolution testing is required for all solid oral Pharmacopeial

dosage forms in which absorption of the drug is necessary for the
product to exert the desired therapeutic effect. Exceptions are for
tablets meeting a requirement for completeness of solution or for
rapid (10 to 15 minutes) disintegration for soluble or radiolabeled
drugs.”

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 Establishing Dissolution Criteria

Starting point:

 What monographs are available?

 What are the dissolution requirements in the available

monographs?

 What other sources of information are available?

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 Finding Current PhInt Monographs

The International Pharmacopeia Supplement 1 to the 4 th

Edition (2008) is available at:

http://www.who.int/phint/en/p/docf/

For the latest monographs, including a list of those under

development:

https://www.who.int/medicines/publications/pharmacopoei
a/mono_dev/en/index.html

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 PhInt Monographs and Requirements:
ACT’s
ACT’s include 7 API’s present in 4 possible combinations.

 PhInt monographs are available for all API’s and for the
following FPP’s:

Single-API FPP’s

Artemether capsules

Artemether tablets

Artesunate tablets

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 PhInt Monographs and Requirements

ACT’s (multiple API FPPs):

Artemether/lumefantrine tablets (new)

Artemether/lumefantrine oral suspension (new)

Note that the above are available under monograph

development (second link on previous slide), not in the
online PhInt (first link on previous slide).

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 PhInt Monographs

Monographs under development and future monographs:

Monographs in progress:

Amodiaquine tablets

Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine tablets.

Proposed for work:

Mefloquine tablets

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 PhInt Dissolution Requirements

Artemether capsules - Dissolution. Carry out the test as described

under 5.5 Dissolution test for solid oral dosage forms.

Artemether tablets – as above

Artesunate tablets – as above

Artemether/lumefantrine tablets – no reference to dissolution

Artemether/lumefantrine oral suspension – no reference to

dissolution, including in the referenced general monograph:

“Liquid preparations for oral use” under the section, “Powders for
oral solutions/suspensions/drops”

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 Availability in Other Pharmacopeia

 BP 2008: no monographs.

 USP 2009:

API’s: amodiaquine, amodiaquine HCl, mefloquine

Dosage Forms:
• Amodiaquine HCl Tablets
• Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine Tablets

For both of the above, dissolution limits are included.

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 USP Monograph
Dissolution Methods/Limits
Amodiaquine HCl Tablets
• Medium: water; 900 mL.
• Apparatus 2: 50 rpm.
• NLT 75% (Q) in 30 minutes

Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine Tablets
• Medium: pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, prepared as directed under Buffer
Solutions in the section Reagents, Indicators, and Solutions; 1000 mL.
• Apparatus 2: 75 rpm.
• NLT 60% (Q) each API in 30 minutes.
(The above are in USP 2009 and USP 2009 S1)

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USP vs PhInt Dissolution for Solid Orals

 The apparatus 1 (basket) and apparatus 2 (paddle) are

essentially the same in USP, BP and PhInt
pharmacopeia. (See next slides.)

 The acceptance criteria in the PhInt dissolution chapter

for solid orals is the same as USP Acceptance Table 1, ie
S1/S2/S3 stages and reference to Q.

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 USP Apparatus 1: Basket

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 PhInt Basket Apparatus

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 PhInt Paddle Apparatus

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 Disintegration (DT) Testing

 For immediate release tablets and capsules, dissolution

rate is determined by:

1) Rate of release of the API from the matrix, and

2) The rate at which the API dissolves in the medium.

For highly soluble API’s, the rate is largely determined by

the disintegration of the dosage form.

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 Disintegration (DT) Testing

 Note that disintegration is generally an in-process test

when the API is not highly soluble.

 Disintegration is indicated in the PhInt General Chapter

on tablets for various tablet types (uncoated, soluble
tablets, effervescent tablets, coated tablets). However: a
statement is included regarding all tablets: “Where a
requirement for the “Dissolution test” is specified in
the individual monograph, the 5.3 Disintegration test
for tablets and capsules is not required”.

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 Disintegration vs Dissolution
ICH Q6: Disintegration may be substituted for dissolution when:

-rapidly dissolving FPP’s (dissolution >80% in 15 minutes at pH 1.2, 4.0 and

6.8) and FPP’s containing API’s which are highly soluble throughout the
physiological range (dose/solubility volume < 250 mL from pH 1.2 to 6.8)

Most appropriate when:

- relationship between DT and dissolution is established, or

- DT shown to be more discriminating than dissolution.

In these cases development information should be provided to support the

robustness of the formulation and manufacturing process with respect to the
selection of dissolution vs. disintegration testing (see Decision Tree #7(1)).

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 ICH Q6 Decision Tree 7/1

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 Disintegration vs Dissolution

 In the introduction to the current PhInt, it states that

disintegration testing has been added to monographs for
tablets and capsules containing highly soluble API’s, for
example chloroquine sulfate tablets and isoniazid tablets.

 “…the disintegration test is considered to be generally

satisfactory for such products”.

 Note that API’s in ACT’s are generally low solubility,

and dissolution testing is required.

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 Prequalification Requirements

 A discriminating dissolution method should be

developed for the final composition of the FPP, when
applicable. This is a general requirement for solid orals.

 Limits should be set for each API in fixed-dose FPPs.

 The dissolution method should be incorporated into the

stability and quality control programs (release and shelf-
life specifications). Release limits = Shelf-life limits.

 Multipoint dissolution profiles of both the test and the

reference FPPs should be compared.

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 Prequalification Requirements

 A tabulated summary of the compositions of the FPP

batches (batch number, batch size, manufacturing date
and certificate of analysis at batch release) used in
clinical trials and in bioequivalence studies and a
presentation of dissolution profiles must be provided.
A discussion of the documented information and data
should be presented. Results from comparative in vitro
studies (e.g., dissolution) or comparative in vivo studies
(e.g., bioequivalence) should be discussed when
appropriate.

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Supplement 1 to the Main Generics Guide:
Dissolution Testing
Suggested media for comparative dissolution studies:

 pH 6.8 buffer

 pH 4.5 buffer

 pH 1.2 buffer or 0.1N HCl

Water may be used as an additional medium, especially

when the API is unstable in buffered media to the extent
that data is unusable.

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

Calculation of similarity:

 If both test and reference products show >85%

dissolution in 15 minutes, profiles are considered similar
and f2 calculation is unnecessary.

 Otherwise, calculate f2 (calculation next page). If f2>50,

the profiles are considered similar.

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

f2 is the similarity factor, n is the number of time points, R(t) is the

mean %drug dissolved (reference product), and T(t) is the mean
%drug dissolved (test product).
The evaluation of similarity is based on the conditions of:
 A minimum of three time points (zero excluded); time points for
comparator and test products should be the same.
 12 dosage units of each formulation;

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

 A maximum of one time point after 85% of the comparator

product has been reached. If 85% is not reached due to
poor solubility, dissolution should be conducted until an
asymptote (plateau) is reached.

 The RSD (relative standard deviation) of the mean of any

product should be <20% for the early time point and
<10% for subsequent time points.

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

 Reporting data: the report should include at least:

1) Purpose of study

2) Products / batches information

• Batch numbers, manufacturing/expiry date, and packaging of the two
batches used in the study
• Batch manufacturing record(s), batch size(s), manufacturing sites and
CoAs for the batch(es) of the test product(s).

Note that the batches tested must be the batches of test

and comparator product used in the BE study.

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

3) Full dissolution conditions and method, as well as the

number of units (tablets, capsules, etc) per study. It
should be indicated how and when the samples were
filtered. Any problems with pH related stability of
samples should be indicated and discussed in terms
of preventative handling measures, analysis and
interpretation of data.

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Supplement 1 – Comparative Dissolution

4) Analytical method (validated) or reference to part of

dossier
5) Results (% API dissolved)
• Tabulated (individual results, mean and %CV)
• Graphically
• Similarity determination / f2 calculation if necessary

6) Conclusion/recommendation

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Development of a Discriminating Method

 A method must be developed which is both

a) discriminating, and

b) rugged and reproducible enough for day-to-day

operation, and capable of transfer between labs.

The acceptance criteria should be representative of

multiple batches with the same formulation/manufacturing
process, including key batches (eg BE).

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Development of a Discriminating Method

The method should be discriminating enough:

The procedure should be capable of distinguishing

significant changes in composition or manufacturing
process that might be expected to affect in vivo
performance.

The method should not be overly sensitive:

Assessing the results from multiple batches that

represent typical variability in composition and
manufacturing parameters may assist this evaluation.

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Development of a Discriminating Method

Factors to consider:

 Qualitative and quantitative excipient changes

 Manufacturing parameters:
– Lubrication
– Blend time
– Compression force
– Drying parameters

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 Development Strategy for Dissolution
Methods
Adopt the compendial method if one exists

- exception: unsuitable (example interference)

When no compendial method exists:

- develop a method using compendial methodology (general

chapters) and a study of three factors.

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 Development Strategy

Documented dissolution study focuses on three factors:

1: -the physicochemical characteristics of the product

(solubility, pH and quantitation of API released)

2: -the extent and rate of release of API from the FPP

3: - QC of the system (performance checks)

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 Physicochemical characteristics

 Solubility

 pH

 API quantitation

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 Physicochemical characteristics

Solubility:

Solubility of the API in 37◦C in water, other media (ie HCl)

or buffers of different pH should meet “sink condition”
(volume of medium at least three times that required in
order to form a saturated solution of API).

In the absence of sink conditions, investigate methods to

enhance solubility, eg use of a surfactant. If a surfactant
is used, its concentration should be properly justified (e.g.
typically <2% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)).

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 Physicochemical characteristics

 pH: water may be used as medium, however the effect of

the formulation on the pH of water must be investigated
and if it changes, the use of buffers or HCl should be
considered.

 pH should have in-vivo relevance if possible;

 Stability and solubility of API should be considered, for

example some ACT’s are unstable in acidic medium

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 Physicochemical characteristics
API quantitation:
UV is often used; for UV the applicant should have demonstrated:
a) non-interference with formulation components (spectra of API in
the formula and in standard solutions should be identical in
shape/magnitude);
b) linearity (absorbance vs concentration) up to the highest expected
concentration.
Note that these will be determined as part of routine validation.
Chromatography is often necessary instead of UV when there is
excipient interference, it is low dose or it is a FDC-FPP that
requires more sensitivity and/or selectivity.

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 Performance Checks

 Performance checks include calibration of the system “with suitable

calibrators” (PhInt). The USP calibrator tablets are considered
acceptable for dissolution method calibration.

 System suitability testing (SST) is required to be included in

methodology. For a dissolution method, limits should be established
for:

- Precision (≤ 2%) plus either:

- Peak asymmetry/tailing factor (preferable) (≤ 2) or

- Theoretical plates (≥ 2000) or

- Resolution (>2)

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 Development Strategy

 Establish dissolution profiles in at least two media within

the physiological pH range. One should be a compendial
medium, if a monograph exists.

 Investigation of more than one medium, or a single buffer

with different pH values or ionic strength, can aid in
determining the optimum medium for use in quality
control (eg to evaluate lot-to-lot changes).

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 Development Strategy

 If no compendial monograph exists, a suitable procedure

should be developed based on the physicochemical
properties of both the API and the FPP.

 Choosing a medium in which dissolution is relatively

slower, for eg pH close to the pKa value of the drug, may
be advantageous as it may be more discriminating.

 Once a satisfactory system is achieved, the factors in its

development should be summarized so the assessor
can follow the evolution and determine whether the
system is appropriate.

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 Method Description

The written procedure should include:

Apparatus

Standard and sample preparation

Method of analysis (eg UV, HPLC)

Sampling procedure (intervals, filtration*, handling of samples,

dilutions)

Calculations

Acceptance Criteria

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 Method Description

 Filtration:

It should be indicated how and when samples are filtered.

An inert filter is required with a suitable pore size. The
intent is to avoid a) adsorption of active from solution or
b) interference due to substances extractable by the
dissolution medium.

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 Sample Stability

Stability of samples:

Any problems with pH related stability of samples should

be indicated and discussed in terms of preventative
handling measures, analysis and interpretation of data.

Note that some of the ACT molecules are unstable in

acidic medium.

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 Appropriateness of Method

Check:

1) Whether BCS Class 1 or 3

2) Results (BE batch characteristics, COA’s, stability data)

3) Has data been provided to demonstrate the method is

discriminatory?

4) Published methods

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 BCS Classification

 PhInt monographs for class 1 or 3 API’s have (or will

have) a standard dissolution method:

Paddle, 75 rpm

500 mL pH 6.8 phosphate buffer

Criteria: NLT 80% l.c. in 30 minutes

or

DT NMT 10 min

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 Justification Based on Results

 ICHQ6 states that actual results obtained (batch analysis,

stability studies) should form the primary basis of all
justification.

 Do results indicate the method is discriminating? (Results

of studies on different formulations
(qualitative/quantitative excipient differences), API particle
size distribution (PSD), process parameters or In-Process
Controls (eg hardness, coating thickness)).

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 Justification Based on Results

Example 1: FDC product with fairly rapid release of

both API’s;

> 80% dissolution is reached at 20 minutes (for both

APIs in product)

The next time point can be chosen, ie NLT 80% in 30

minutes. This would be considered an acceptable limit.

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 Justification Based on Results

Example 2: for slow dissolution of immediate release tablets, it

is recommended that two points be used.

The following behaviour is observed for a product:

Time (min): 10 20 30 45 60 90 120

% released: 15 33 49 68 83 98 102

Applicant proposed: ≥ 75 % (Q) in 120 minutes

Limits requested: (1) Limit should be tightened to Q = 75% in 90

minutes. (2) A limit should also be established at 45 minutes and
implemented immediately during stability studies.

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 Published Methods

Compendial general chapters

- PhInt: Methods of Analysis: 5.5 Dissolution test for solid

oral dosage forms.

- USP <711> Dissolution and <724> Drug Release

- USP <1088> In-Vitro and In-Vivo Evaluation of Dosage

Forms

- USP <1092> The Dissolution Procedure: Development

and Evaluation
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 Published Methods

2) FDA dissolution site

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/dissolution/

- Gives reference to USP monograph if one exists

- Gives approved method parameters where no monograph

exists.

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 Published Methods

 For the 7 API’s in the ACT’s, the only hit on the FDA site
is for mefloquine HCl tablets:

Apparatus: Basket

Speed: 100 rpm

Medium: 900 mL SGF without enzyme

Sampling: 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes

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 ICH Q6 Decision Tree 7/2.

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 Validation

Validation:

Testing a method to demonstrate it is suitable for its

intended purpose and the results obtained are
meaningful.

Provides confidence that the method will perform properly

under intended conditions.

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 Validation

Compendial dissolution methods should be revalidated

(verified) for:
– Specificity
– Accuracy
– Precision (repeatability).

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 Validation

House dissolution methods (HPLC, UV) should be fully validated:

Specificity

Linearity

Accuracy

Repeatability

Intermediate precision

Robustness (performed but not provided)

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 Validation

 Specificity: Chromatograms: sample containing placebo

excipients vs sample without these components.

 Linearity: range to be validated: ±20% of limits; eg if

limits cover from 20% to 90% l.c. (controlled release),
linearity should cover 0-110% of l.c.

Coefficient of Determination (r2) ≥ 0.997

 Accuracy: assay samples/placeboes spiked with API;

analysis in triplicate. A bias of 2% or less is acceptable.

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 Validation

Precision:

 System precision

 Repeatability (method precision)

 Intermediate precision (precision with variations, eg days,

analysts, equipment)

 Reproducibility (inter-laboratory trial)

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 Validation

Repeatability determination:

9 determinations covering the range, eg 3 concentrations

in triplicate (n=3)

OR

2 or 3 determinations on each of 3 days

OR

6 determinations at 100% of the concentration

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 Validation

Intermediate Precision:

Variations: days, analysts, equipment (matrixing allowed)

Precision Results: RSD ≤ 2.5%

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 Example Issues

Example 1:

Granules are formulated to be dispersed in water prior to

administration. The API is very bitter and granules are
coated to mask the taste.

The dissolution studies provided should include a

demonstration that the coating serves its purpose, ie it
can withstand the dispersion process. (Failure would
result in a product which cannot be taken due to
bitterness.)

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 Example Issues

Example 2

For some FDC’s, the comparator is in the form of more

than one tablet. When running comparative dissolution,
only one tablet should be placed in any one vessel.
Therefore the evaluation may have to be performed one
API at a time.

If the study uses more than one tablet per vessel,

solubility issues arise.

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 Questions?

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