July 2012 RESTRICTED PROPOSAL FOR REVISION OF MONOGRAPH PUBLISHED IN The International Pharmacopoeia: REVISION OF ph test ABACAVIR ORAL SOLUTION (JULY 2012) PROPOSED REVISION FOR COMMENT The background information for possible revision of the highlighted ph test was provided by a quality control expert. Should you have any comments thereon, please send these to Dr S. Kopp, Manager, Medicines Quality Assurance Programme, Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; fax: (+41 22) 791 4730 or e-mail: kopps@who.int by 24 August 2012. In order to speed up the process for receiving draft monographs and for sending comments, please let us have your e-mail address (to bonnyw@who.int) and we will add it to our World Health Organization 2012 All rights reserved. This draft is intended for a restricted audience only, i.e. the individuals and organizations having received this draft. The draft may not be reviewed, abstracted, quoted, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated or adapted, in part or in whole, in any form or by any means outside these individuals and organizations (including the organizations' concerned staff and member organizations) without the permission of the World Health Organization. The draft should not be displayed on any web site. Please send any request for permission to: Dr Sabine Kopp, Medicines Quality Assurance Programme, Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines, Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Fax: (41-22) 791 4730; e-mail: kopps@who.int. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this draft do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this draft. However, the printed material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. This draft does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization.
page 2 SCHEDULE FOR THE ADOPTION PROCESS OF DOCUMENT QAS/12.500 Draft proposal for revision of a published monograph The International Pharmacopoeia: Revision of ph test Abacavir oral solution Date Notification from collaborating quality laboratories, manufacturers and assessment specialists to revise the requirement for the ph test in this published monograph 12 July 2012 Revision for comments prepared for circulation 12 July 2012 Collation of comments August September 2012 Presentation to the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations 9 12 October 2012 Further follow-up action as required
page 3 Abacavir oral solution Abacaviri solutionum peroralum Category. Antiretroviral (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor) Storage. Abacavir oral solution should be kept in a well-closed container. Labelling. The designation of the container of Abacavir oral solution should state that the active ingredient is in the sulfate form and the quantity should be indicated in terms of the equivalent amount of abacavir. Additional information. Strength in the current WHO Model list of essential medicines: 100 mg of abacavir per 5ml (20 mg per ml). Strength in the current WHO Model list of essential medicines for children: 100 mg of abacavir per 5ml (20 mg per ml). Requirements Complies with the monograph for "Liquid preparations for oral use". Definition. Abacavir oral solution is a solution of Abacavir sulfate in a suitable vehicle, which may be flavoured. It contains not less than 90.0% and not more than 110.0% of the amount of abacavir (C 14 H 18 N 6 O) stated on the label. Identity tests Either tests A, C and D or tests B, C and D may be applied. A. Carry out test A.1 or, where UV detection is not available, test A.2. A.1 Carry out the test as described under 1.14.1 Thin-layer chromatography, using silica R6 as the coating substance and a mixture of 8 volumes of dichloromethane R, 2 volumes of 2-propanol R as the mobile phase. Apply separately to the plate 5 µl of each of the following 2 solutions. For solution (A) dilute a volume of the oral solution with methanol R to give a solution containing the equivalent of 5 mg of abacavir per ml. For solution (B) use 6 mg of abacavir sulfate RS per ml of methanol R. After removing the plate from the chromatographic chamber, allow it to dry exhaustively in air or in a current of cool air. Examine the chromatogram in ultraviolet light (254 nm).
page 4 The principal spot obtained with solution A corresponds in position, appearance and intensity to that obtained with solution B. A.2 Carry out the test as described under 1.14.1 Thin-layer chromatography, using the conditions described above under test A.1 but using silica gel R5 as the coating substance. Spray with vanillin/sulfuric acid TS1. Heat the plate for a few minutes at 120 C. Examine the chromatogram in daylight. The principal spot obtained with solution A corresponds in position, appearance and intensity to that obtained with solution B. B. See the test described under Assay. The retention time of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) is similar to that in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2). C. To a volume of oral solution containing the equivalent of 15 mg of abacavir add 100 ml of water R and shake; dilute 5 ml of this solution to 50 ml with the same solvent. The absorption spectrum (1.6) of the resulting solution, when observed between 220 nm and 320 nm, exhibits a maximum at about 291 nm. D. To a volume of the oral solution containing the equivalent of about 20 mg of abacavir add 5 ml of water R and shake. The resulting solution yields reaction A described under 2.1 General identification tests as characteristic of sulfates. ph value (1.13). ph of the oral solution, 3.8 4.5. Note from the Secretariat: Based on updated information received from manufacturers and assessment specialists a revision of the limits is consider to read: ph value (1.13). ph of the oral solution, 3.8 5.0. Related substances Apply criteria A in all cases and criteria B, whenever possible. Carry out the test as described under 1.14.4 High-performance liquid chromatography, using the same chromatographic conditions as described under Assay. Prepare the following solutions in the dissolution solvent prepared by diluting 1 ml of phosphoric acid (~ 1440 g/l) TS in 1 litre of water R.
page 5 For solution (1) transfer a volume of the oral solution containing the equivalent of 10 mg of abacavir in the dissolution solvent and dilute to 50.0 ml with the same solvent. For solution (2) dilute 5.0 ml of solution (1) to 50.0 ml with the dissolution solvent; dilute 5.0 ml of this solution to 50.0 ml with the same solvent. For solution (3) dissolve 5 mg of abacavir sulfate for system suitability RS (containing abacavir sulfate and impurities B to F) in the dissolution solvent and dilute to 25 ml with the same solvent. For solution (4) dissolve a suitable amount of each of the excipients stated on the label in 10 ml of a suitable solvent and dilute to 100 ml with the dissolution solvent. Inject separately 20 µl each of solutions (1), (2), (3) and (4) and of dissolution solvent in the chromatographic system. Examine the blank chromatogram for any extraneous peaks and disregard the corresponding peaks observed in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1). In the chromatogram obtained with solution (3), the impurity peaks are eluted at the following relative retention with reference to abacavir (retention time about 19 minutes): impurity C about 0.7; impurity D about 1.05; impurity E about 1.10; impurity B about 1.3; impurity F about 1.7. The test is not valid unless the resolution between the peaks due to abacavir and impurity D is at least 1.5. If information concerning the excipients used in manufacturing the oral solution is not available or, if any of the peaks in the chromatogram obtained with solution (4) corresponds to any of the peaks in the chromatogram obtained with solution (3) or, if interference by excipients has been demonstrated by any other means, apply only criteria A. A. In the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) the area of any peak corresponding to impurity C is not greater than the area of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2) (1.0%); the area of any peak with a relative retention greater than 0.5 but less than that of impurity C is not greater than 0.5 times the area of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2) (impurity G, 0.5%). B. In the chromatogram obtained with solution (1), the area of any other peak, apart from the principal peak, is not greater than 0.3 times the area of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2) (0.3%). The sum of the areas of all peaks, other than the principal peak, is not greater than twice the area of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2) (2.0%). Disregard any peak with the same retention time as that of any of the peaks in the chromatogram obtained with solution (4) and any peak with an area less than 0.1 times the area of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2) (0.1%). Assay. Carry out the test as described under 1.14.4 High-performance liquid chromatography, using a stainless steel column (15 cm x 4.6 mm), packed with octadecylsilyl silica gel for chromatography (5 µm).
page 6 The mobile phases for gradient elution consist of a mixture of Mobile phase A and Mobile phase B, using the following conditions: Mobile phase A: 0.05% solution of trifluoroacetic acid R in water R. Mobile phase B: 85 volumes of methanol R and 15 volumes of water R. Time Mobile phase AMobile phase B Comments (min) (% v/v) (% v/v) 0-20 95 to 70 5 to 30 Linear gradient 20-35 70 to 10 30 to 90 Linear gradient 35-40 10 90 Isocratic 40-41 10 to 0 90 to 100 Linear gradient 41-50 0 100 Isocratic 50-51 0 to 95 100 to 5 Return to initial composition 51-55 95 5 Re-equilibration Operate with a flow rate of 0.8 ml per minute and the column oven temperature at 30 C. As a detector use an ultraviolet spectrophotometer set at a wavelength of about 254 nm. Prepare the following solutions in the dissolution solvent prepared by diluting 1 ml of phosphoric acid (~ 1440 g/l) TS in 1 litre of water R. For solution (1) transfer an accurately weighed quantity of the oral solution containing the equivalent of about 10 mg of abacavir into a 50 ml volumetric flask. Add about 40 ml of dissolution solvent, shake mechanically for about 10 minutes and make up to volume using the same solvent. For solution (2) use 0.23 mg of abacavir sulfate RS per ml of dissolution solvent. For solution (3) dissolve 5 mg of abacavir sulfate for system suitability RS (containing abacavir sulfate and impurities B to F) in the dissolution solvent and dilute to 25 ml with the same solvent. For solution (4) dissolve a suitable amount of each of the excipients stated on the label in 10 ml of a suitable solvent and dilute to 100 ml with the dissolution solvent. Inject separately 20 µl each of solutions (3) and (4). In the chromatogram obtained with solution (3), the impurity peaks are eluted at the following relative retention with reference to abacavir (retention time about 19 minutes): impurity C about 0.7; impurity D about 1.05; impurity E about 1.10: impurity B about 1.3; impurity F about 1.7. The assay is not valid unless the resolution between the peaks corresponding to abacavir and impurity D is at least 1.5. The assay is also not valid if any of the peaks in the chromatogram obtained with solution (4) corresponds to the peak due to abacavir in the chromatogram obtained with solution (3). Inject alternatively 20 µl each of solution (1) and (2) and record the chromatograms. Measure the areas of the peak responses obtained in the chromatograms from solution (1).
page 7 Determine the weight per ml (1.3.1) of the oral solution and calculate the percentage content of abacavir (C 14 H 18 N 6 O) weight in volume in the oral solution using the declared content of (C 14 H 18 N 6 O) 2,H 2 SO 4 in abacavir sulfate RS. Each mg of (C 14 H 18 N 6 O) 2,H 2 SO 4 is equivalent to 0.8537 mg of C 14 H 18 N 6 O. Impurities The impurities limited by the requirements of this monograph include those listed in the monograph for Abacavir sulfate and the following: G. (N 6 -cyclopropyl-3h-purine-2,6-diamine) ***