Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5599/admet.850

Global testing of a consensus solubility assessment to enhance robustness of the WHO biopharmaceutical classification system

Valeria Gigante orcid.org/0000-0003-2496-6048 ; World Health Organization, Geneva Switzerland
Giovanni M. Pauletti ; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Sabine Kopp ; Norms and Standards for Pharmaceuticals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Minghze Xu ; Institute for Chemical Drug Control, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
Isabel Gonzalez-Alvarez ; Department of Engineering: Pharmacy section, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Alicante, Spain
Virginia Merino ; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Michelle P. McIntosh ; Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
Anita Wessels ; North_West University, School of Pharmacy, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Beom-Jin Lee ; College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
Kênnia Rocha Rezende ; Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil
Gerhard K.E. Scriba ; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
Gaurav P. S. Jadaun ; Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, Ghaziabad, India
Marival Bermejo ; Department of Engineering: Pharmacy section, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Alicante, Spain

Abstract

The WHO Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) is a practical tool to identify active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that scientifically qualify for a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence studies. The focus of this study was to engage a global network of laboratories to experimentally quantify the pH-dependent solubility of the highest therapeutic dose of 16 APIs using a harmonized protocol. Intra-laboratory variability was ≤5 %, and no apparent association of inter-laboratory variability with API solubility was discovered. Final classification “low solubility” vs “high solubility” was consistent among laboratories. In comparison to the literature-based provisional 2006 WHO BCS classification, three compounds were re-classified from “high” to “low-solubility”. To estimate the consequences of these experimental solubility results on BCS classification, dose-adjusted in silico predictions of the fraction absorbed in humans were performed using GastroPlus®. Further expansion of these experimental efforts to qualified APIs from the WHO Essential Medicines List is anticipated to empower regulatory authorities across the globe to issue scientifically-supported guidance regarding the necessity of performing in vivo bioequivalence studies. Ultimately, this will improve access to affordable generic products, which is a critical prerequisite to reach Universal Health Coverage.

Keywords

biowaiver; multisource products; essential medicines ; permeability; regulatory guidance

Hrčak ID:

247492

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/247492

Publication date:

8.12.2020.

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