On the road to successful drug approvals, one of the most critical steps is process optimization. It lays the groundwork for scale-up and plays an integral part in adhering to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
In essence, process optimization is a continuous activity that enables Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) to get good yields of quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs.
As mentioned in an earlier post, the process optimization stage fully establishes and tests the process that will form the basis for the whole program. This stage determines what will be required to scale up the molecule and turn a chemical into a drug substance that is free of impurities and meets FDA requirements and ICH guidelines.
During this stage, the scientists need to understand as much as possible about the process. This includes the Critical Process Parameters (CPPs), or the key variables affecting the production process. CPPs are attributes that are monitored to detect deviations in standardized production operations and product quality. Parameters usually include temperature, concentrations, the time involved in a reaction, crystallization, agitation speed, etc.
Why Process Optimization is Never Done
Once the initial process optimization phase is completed, it never ends there. Once a process is successfully optimized for a commercial product, engineers are always fine-tuning it to get cycle times down, improve yields and further reduce costs.
For example, a CDMO may expect to produce 760 kilos of a new pharmaceutical in 2,000 gallons, yet when they are finished, it may only yield 740 kilos. While the 20 missing kilos may not be that big of a deal, the engineers would still work backward to determine where the 20 kilos went, pouring through extensive data, since they had to go somewhere, whether they decomposed or were in filtrates. They would determine if it was a plant issue or conditions that they could not have predicted. In this way, new batches in a manufacturing campaign can be improved based on the experiences of the earlier batches.
Key to Success in Process Optimization: Experienced Scientists Who Can Get It Right The First Time
The key to successful process optimization lies in the expertise of the scientists and engineers doing the investigative work. This phase can often last several months and continuity is crucial to meet timelines and budgets. Experience helps you get it right the first time, which saves money and helps you get to the Kilo lab faster, with the right process.
The Role of the FDA in Process Optimization
There are no rules regarding process optimization when it comes to FDA compliance, other than the requirement that you have a reproducible process in place, and that you are following it each time. In some cases, if there is a significant change, such as using a new solvent or a different piece of machinery, you may have to notify the FDA about that. CDMOs should work to avoid major chemical or equipment change, because that may trigger delays and extensive new reporting, which may not really be worth the effort.
What a CDMO Wishes a Sponsor Understood about Process Optimization
Many times, process optimization can uncover problems that are completely unpredictable and no fault of anyone, yet can necessitate going back to the lab, causing delays in delivery, as well as added costs for the specific batch.
For this reason, it’s important for CDMOs to speak with the sponsor about the critical role of process optimization, which can uncover problems that must be addressed in the short-term, but which can help avoid bigger problems in the future. It can also ensure that future batches are optimized to reduce costs by eliminating process steps, improving yields, shortening cycle times and producing higher-quality product.
While there are different ways CDMOs conduct process optimization, the ultimate goal is to derive better yields of chemicals and eliminate problems that can impact successful commercialization. As an iterative process that brings about constant refinement, it’s never really done but the results are worth the effort.
Want to know more about Process Optimization? Contact us at 978-462-5555 or http://info@pcisynthesis.com.