3.2.S — Drug Substance
Drug substance quality information: characterization, manufacture, control, reference standards, stability
Requirements by Phase
Drug substance quality information: characterization, manufacture, control, reference standards, stability
Requirements by Phase
IND Phase 1: required IND Phase 2: required IND Phase 3: required NDA: required
Content (NCE/Small Molecule)
- Complete drug substance quality documentation covering nomenclature, manufacture, characterization, control, reference standards, container closure, and stability
Expected Deliverables
- Drug substance quality dossier (Module 3.2.S)
ICH Guidelines: Q6A, Q6B, Q7, Q11
Regulatory Requirements (FDA IND PHASE 2 3 CMC)
- [All] Certain information traditionally submitted in information amendments, identified as corroborating information, can be submitted in an annual report.
- [Phase 2] Limited phase 2 corroborating information recommended in section III need not be submitted before initiation of phase 2 studies and can be generated during phase 2 drug development.
- [Phase 3] Phase 3 corroborating information recommended in section IV need not be submitted before the initiation of phase 3 studies and can be generated during phase 3 drug development.
- [All] Corroborating information and a summary of CMC safety information submitted during a subject-reporting period should be included in the annual report, eliminating the need for general CMC updates at the end of phase 1 or phase 2.
- [All] CMC safety information should be submitted to support the safe use of the drug.
- [Phase 2] The CMC safety information identified in section III (Phase 2 Studies) should be submitted before initiation of the phase 2 studies.
- [Phase 3] The CMC safety information identified in section IV (Phase 3 Studies) should be submitted before initiation of the phase 3 studies.
- [All] When new information becomes available that relates to the safe use of the drug or when there are changes in previously submitted CMC safety information, it should be submitted during IND clinical trials in an information amendment.
- [All] For changes with a significant potential to affect the safety of the product, an information amendment should be submitted describing the changes and containing relevant information at a level of detail sufficient for an adequate review and assessment.
- [Phase 2] Corroborating information specified in section III (Phase 2 Studies) that is generated during phase 1 need not be submitted until the first annual report after initiation of phase 2 studies.
- [Phase 2] Corroborating information specified in section III (Phase 2 Studies) that is generated during phase 2 studies should be submitted in the next annual report after the information becomes available.
- [Phase 3] Corroborating information specified in section IV (Phase 3 Studies) that is generated earlier during phase 1 and phase 2 need not be submitted until the first annual report after initiation of phase 3 studies.
- [Phase 3] Corroborating information specified in section IV (Phase 3 Studies) that is generated during phase 3 studies should be submitted in the next annual report after the information becomes available.
- [Phase 2] Updates on the brief description of the drug substance and a more detailed description of the configuration and chemical structure for complex organic compounds should be provided.
- [Phase 2] The addition, deletion, or change of any manufacturer of the drug substance from that specified during phase 1 should be reported.
Source: ICH Q7; ICH Q11; 21 CFR 312.23(a)(7)(i)
References
Sections
INN, USAN, chemical name, company code
Structural formula, molecular formula, molecular weight, stereochemistry
Physical/chemical properties: solubility, pKa, polymorphism, hygroscopicity
Name, address, responsibility of each manufacturer
Flow diagram and narrative description of manufacturing process with critical steps identified
Quality and control of starting materials, reagents, solvents, catalysts
Critical process parameters and intermediate specifications
Process validation and/or evaluation studies
Process development including changes from initial to commercial scale
Detailed structural characterization by spectroscopic and other methods
Identification, qualification, and control of process-related and degradation impurities
List of tests, acceptance criteria, and regulatory basis for drug substance specification
Description of analytical procedures used for testing drug substance
Validation reports for analytical procedures per ICH Q2
Results of batch analyses for drug substance batches used in development and clinical trials
Scientific rationale for inclusion of tests and acceptance criteria
Source, characterization, and certification of primary reference standards
Description and suitability of container closure system for storage and transport
Summary of stability studies and conclusions on storage conditions and retest date/shelf life
Post-approval stability protocol and commitment for ongoing stability monitoring
Tabulated stability data from long-term, accelerated, and stress studies
Related Sections
Up toModule 3: QualityDrug product quality information: composition, development, manufacture, control, stability
Quality appendices for biotech products: facilities, adventitious agents, novel excipients
Region-specific quality information (executed batch records, comparability protocols, methods validation)
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