Q4B Annex 3(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Test for Particulate Contamination: Sub-Visible Particles General Chapter

Contact: Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS)

Notice

October 22, 2010

Our file number: 10-121191-626

Adoption of International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use Guidance: Q4B Annex 3(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Test for Particulate Contamination: Sub-Visible Particles General Chapter

Health Canada is pleased to announce the adoption of the ICH guidance Q4B Annex 3(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Test for Particulate Contamination: Sub-Visible Particles General Chapter.

This guidance has been developed by the appropriate ICH Expert Working Group and has been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH Process. The ICH Steering Committee has endorsed the final draft and recommended its adoption by the regulatory bodies of the European Union, Japan and the United States.

In adopting this ICH guidance, Health Canada endorses the principles and practices described therein. This document should be read in conjunction with this accompanying notice and with the relevant sections of other applicable Health Canada guidances.

It is recognized that the scope and subject matter of current Health Canada guidances may not be entirely consistent with those of the ICH guidances that are being introduced as part of our commitment to international harmonization and the ICH Process. In such circumstances, Health Canada adopted ICH guidances take precedence.

Health Canada is committed to eliminating such discrepancies through the implementation of a phased-in work plan that will examine the impact associated with the adoption of ICH guidances. This will result in the amendment or, depending on the extent of revisions required, withdrawal of some Health Canada guidances.

This and other Guidance documents are available on the Health Canada website.

Should you have any questions or comments regarding the content of the guidance, please contact:

BPS Enquiries - Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences
E-mail: BPS_Enquiries@hc-sc.gc.ca
Telephone: (613) 941-3184
Fax: (613) 941-0571

Foreword

This guidance has been developed by the appropriate International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Expert Working Group and has been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH Process. The ICH Steering Committee has endorsed the final draft and recommended its adoption by the regulatory bodies of the European Union, Japan and United States of America (USA).

In adopting this ICH guidance, Health Canada endorses the principles and practices described therein. This document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notice and the relevant sections of other applicable guidances.

Guidance documents are meant to provide assistance to industry and health care professionals on how to comply with the policies and governing statutes and regulations. They also serve to provide review and compliance guidance to staff, thereby ensuring that mandates are implemented in a fair, consistent and effective manner.

Guidance documents are administrative instruments not having force of law and, as such, allow for flexibility in approach. Alternate approaches to the principles and practices described in this document may be acceptable provided they are supported by adequate scientific justification. Alternate approaches should be discussed in advance with the relevant program area to avoid the possible finding that applicable statutory or regulatory requirements have not been met.

As a corollary to the above, it is equally important to note that Health Canada reserves the right to request information or material, or define conditions not specifically described in this guidance, in order to allow the Department to adequately assess the safety, efficacy or quality of a therapeutic product. Health Canada is committed to ensuring that such requests are justifiable and that decisions are clearly documented.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Q4B Outcome
   • 2.1 Analytical Procedures
   • 2.2 Acceptance Criteria
3. Timing of Annex Implementation
4. Considerations for Implementation
5. References Used for the Q4B Evaluation

1. Introduction

This annex is the result of the Q4B process for Test for Particulate Contamination: Sub-Visible Particles. The proposed texts were submitted by the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG).

2. Q4B Outcome

2.1 Analytical Procedures

The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that the official pharmacopoeial texts, Ph.Eur. 2.9.19. Particulate Contamination: Sub-visible Particles, JP 6.07 Insoluble Particulate Matter Test for Injections, and USP <788> Particulate Matter in Injections can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions subject to the following condition:

2.1.1 Instrument calibration and system suitability measurements should follow regional good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements.

2.2 Acceptance Criteria

Except for nominal 100-milliliter (mL) parenteral products, the acceptance criteria are interchangeable. At the 100-mL nominal volume, the criteria specified in JP are more stringent than those in the other two pharmacopoeias; therefore, the criteria are not interchangeable in all three regions at that volume.

3. Timing of Annex Implementation

When this annex is implemented (incorporated into the regulatory process at ICH Step 5) in a region, it can be used in that region. Timing might differ for each region.

4. Considerations for Implementation

4.1 General consideration: When sponsors or manufacturers change their existing methods to the implemented Q4B-evaluated pharmacopoeial texts that are referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex, any change notification, variation, and/or prior approval procedures should be handled in accordance with established regional regulatory mechanisms pertaining to compendial changes.

4.2 FDA consideration: Based on the recommendation above, and with reference to the conditions set forth in this annex, the pharmacopoeial texts referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex can be considered interchangeable. However, FDA might request that a company demonstrate that the chosen method is acceptable and suitable for a specific material or product, irrespective of the origin of the method. For nominal 100-mL parenteral products, the FDA considers testing criteria from all three pharmacopoeias as interchangeable.

4.3 EU consideration: For the European Union, the monographs of the Ph. Eur. have mandatory applicability. Regulatory authorities can accept the reference in a marketing authorisation application, renewal or variation application citing the use of the corresponding text from another pharmacopoeia as referenced in Section 2.1, in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex, as fulfilling the requirements for compliance with the Ph. Eur. Chapter, Particulate Contamination: Sub-visible Particles:  2.9.19., on the basis of the declaration of interchangeability made above. For nominal 100-mL parenteral products, the EU considers testing criteria from all three pharmacopoeias as interchangeable.

4.4 MHLW consideration: The pharmacopoeial texts referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex can be used as interchangeable in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex. Details of implementation requirements will be provided in the notification by MHLW when this annex is implemented.

4.5 In Canada, any of the texts cited in section 2.1 of this annex and used in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex can be considered interchangeable.

For nominal 100 mL parenteral products, Health Canada considers the testing criteria from all three pharmacopoeias to be interchangeable.

5. References Used for the Q4B Evaluation

5.1 The PDG Stage 5B sign-off document: Japanese Pharmacopoeial Forum, Volume 13, Number 3 (August 2004).

5.2 The pharmacopoeial references for Particulate Matter for this annex are:

• 5.2.1 European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.): 5th Edition (official on January 2005) Particulate Contamination: Sub-visible Particles (reference 01/2005: 20919);
• 5.2.2 Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP): 6.07 Insoluble Particulate Matter Test for Injections as it appears in the JP Fifteenth Edition (March 31, 2006, The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ministerial Notification No. 285). The method was changed in September 2007 to correct a sentence in the introduction as underlined in the text that is provided by MHLW which is appended;
• 5.2.3 United States Pharmacopeia (USP): <788> Particulate Matter in Injections, Revision Bulletin, April 4, 2007.