Drug Regulator, EMEA, publishes input into ICH Q4B Tablet Friability
EMEA publishes ANNEX 6 TO NOTE FOR EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF PHARMACOPOEIAL TEXTS FOR USE IN THE ICH REGIONS ON TABLET FRIABILITY GENERAL CHAPTER (EMEA/CHMP/ICH/379801/2009)
Analytical Procedures
The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that the analytical procedures described in the official pharmacopoeial texts, Ph.Eur. 2.9.7. Friability of Uncoated Tablets, JP General Information 26. Tablet Friability Test, and USP <1216> Tablet Friability, can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions.
Acceptance Criteria
For interchangeability, the loss of mass for a single determination should be not more than 1.0 percent, unless otherwise specified in the dossier. When three determinations are conducted, then the mean loss of mass for the three determinations should be not more than 1.0 percent, unless otherwise specified in the dossier.
EMEA publishes input into ICH Q4B Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
EMEA publshes ANNEX 6 TO NOTE FOR EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF PHARMACOPOEIAL TEXTS FOR USE IN THE ICH REGIONS ON POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS GENERAL CHAPTER (EMEA/CHMP/ICH/381133/2009)
Analytical Procedure
The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that the official pharmacopoeial texts, the section in Ph.Eur. 2.2.31. Electrophoresis entitled “Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)”, JP General Information 23. SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, and USP <1056> Biotechnology-derived Articles – Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions.
Acceptance Criteria
The texts evaluated did not contain acceptance criteria
EMEA Publishes ICH input Q4B Sterility Test
The EMEA Publishes ANNEX 6 TO NOTE FOR EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF PHARMACOPOEIAL TEXTS FOR USE IN THE ICH REGIONS ON STERILITY TEST GENERAL CHAPTER (EMEA/CHMP/ICH/645592/2008)
Analytical Procedure
The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that the official pharmacopoeial texts, Ph. Eur. 2.6.1. Sterility, JP 4.06 Sterility Test, and USP <71> Sterility Tests, can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions subject to the conditions detailed below. Testing conditions for medical devices, such as sutures, are outside the scope of the ICH recommendation.
- Diluting and rinsing fluids should not have antibacterial or antifungal properties if they are to be considered suitable for dissolving, diluting, or rinsing an article under test for sterility.
- When testing liquid parenteral preparations with a nominal volume of 100 milliliters in batches of more than 500 containers, the test is considered interchangeable if the minimum number of containers selected is either 20 or is 2 percent of the total number of containers, whichever is lower.
Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criteria are harmonized between the three pharmacopoeias.
EMEA Publishes ICH input on Q4B Disintigraion Test
The EMEA Publishes ANNEX 5 TO NOTE FOR EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF PHARMACOPOEIAL TEXTS FOR USE IN THE ICH REGIONS ON DISINTEGRATION TEST GENERAL CHAPTER (EMEA/CHMP/ICH/308895/2008)
Analytical Procedure
The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that for tablets and capsules, the official pharmacopoeial texts, Ph. Eur. 2.9.1. Disintegration of Tablets and Capsules, JP 6.09 Disintegration Test, and USP <701> Disintegration, can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions subject to the conditions detailed below. Testing conditions for specific dosage forms are outside the scope of the harmonization of this chapter.
- For tablets and capsules larger than 18 millimeters (mm) long for which a different apparatus is used, the Disintegration Test is not considered to be interchangeable in the three regions.
- The Disintegration Test is not considered to be interchangeable in the three regions for dosage forms referred to in the regional compendia as delayed-release, gastro-resistant, or enteric-coated.
- Product-specific parameters such as media and the use of discs should be specified in the application dossier.
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria are outside the scope of the harmonization of this chapter and should be specified in the application dossier.
If you would like more detail in this area please get in touch with Damien Bové damien.bove@idaconsultants.com
Damien Bové works as a drug development consultant (pharmaceutical or biotechnology) and regulatory consultant, we work with our clients to define a drug development target, define a drug development strategy, define a regulatory strategy or define a commercial strategy. Our clients are generally raising funds or looking to license out their technology and we help them achieve it. If you want to know more don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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