31
Aug
Female chemist at work in laboratory.

System and Sample Suitability – Know the Whole Story!

Within the draft ICH Q14 “Analytical Procedure Development” guidance document (here), Section 6 refers to  the Analytical Procedure Control Strategy. This should be developed prior to and confirmed via Analytical Method Validation. A key component of the Analytical Procedure Control Strategy is System Suitability (SST), but the guidance document also makes reference to sample suitability: […]

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30
Aug
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The Role of QC Testing

The EU recently issued the comprehensive GMP Annex 1 for the manufacture of sterile drug products. This guidance is broad and thorough covering all aspects of sterile product manufacture. Under the Quality Control section, (10.5) the following is referenced: The sterility test applied to the finished product should only be regarded as the last in […]

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19
Jul

Is It Time to Revisit USP <1058>?

With the issuance of draft ICH Quality Guideline ICH Q14 on Analytical Procedure Development (here) and revision of ICH Q2(R2) Guideline on Validation of Analytical Procedures (here), along with the issuance of USP <1220> Analytical Procedure Lifecycle, perhaps it may be time to revisit USP <1058> Analytical Instrument Qualification (AIQ). USP <1058> is a critical chapter providing key guidance on […]

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16
May

The Significance of Data Invalidation

When reviewing health agency citations, investigators are naturally concerned when observing cases of data invalidation during investigations and may well question the motives/justification accordingly. This can lead to some uncomfortable exchanges between firms and health agencies! So how should a laboratory protect themselves from such a situation? First, you want to ensure that, per your […]

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06
Apr
Hand Holding a Chemical Solution Test-tube in a bio-Chemistry DNA Research Laboratory

ICH Q14: Analytical Procedure Development and Revision of Q2(R2) Analytical Validation

The ICH has developed a draft of the new ICH Quality Guideline, ICH Q14, Analytical Procedure Development, and revision of ICH Q2(R2), Guideline on Validation of Analytical Procedures, both endorsed on March 22, 2022 for public consultation.  The draft, along with other ICH guidances on validation and analytical procedures, can be found here. The draft revision of […]

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07
Jul

The Importance of Data Integrity Risk Assessment

Paul Mason, Ph.D., Lachman Consultants, wrote an article for Contract Pharma covering “The Importance of Data Integrity Risk Assessment.” Here is a brief excerpt from the article: “The FDA and other Health Agencies have an expectation that companies understand the capability of their systems that generate and store data/records including any data integrity risks associated […]

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03
Dec

The Importance of Hypothesis Testing During Investigations

Paul Mason, PhD, Lachman Consultants, wrote a recent article for Contract Pharma discussing why it is critical to have controls in place during out-of-specification investigations to provide quality assurance. Here is a brief excerpt from the article: “While being audited by government health agencies, it can be expected that quality investigations will be reviewed since […]

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22
Oct
Businessman examines a tablet with a magnifying glass. Concept of internet security

Understanding Risk as It Applies to Data Integrity

The PDA published Technical Report 84, Introducing Data Integrity Requirements into Manufacturing and Packaging Operations (here), which reaffirms that Data Integrity is not only a concern for the laboratory but for any aspect of the pharmaceutical industry where data/records are generated and handled.  There are excellent tools within the document as it applies to the […]

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10
Feb
Concept For Compliance For Services On Virtual Screen

The Importance of Sampling Plans for Uniformity of Dosage Testing

Numerous health authorities have cited companies for inadequate sampling plans of finished drug products. A recent 483 issued to a finished drug‑product firm specifically mentions the firm’s lack of a scientifically sound statistical sampling plan during production of all strengths of its drug product.  The FDA also mentions that this firm uses content uniformity results […]

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08
Jan

The Role of Risk Assessment within Data Integrity

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a draft guidance document titled “Guideline on Data Integrity” (October 2019) and within the document there is the statement: “Quality risk management (QRM), control strategies and sound scientific principles are required to mitigate such (Data Integrity) risks” and then further it states: “application of QRM with identification of all […]

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