Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade in coronary artery disease

Characterization of eptifibatide during drug formulation stability assays

The objective of the study was to determine the identity of a new impurity detected in HPLC chromatograms of research samples of eptifibatide manufactured by a new process and formulated into drug product. The identification of the unknown impurity was required in order to understand the mechanism of its formation. The analysis was performed by using tandem mass spectrometers coupled with a reversed-phase gradient HPLC system. The unknown compound was then structurally elucidated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) tandem mass spectrometry. The mass spectrometric results showed that the protonated molecular ion of the unknown compound was m/z 862.3347 with molecular formula: C(36)H(52)N(11)O(10)S(2). The unknown compound was a linear peptide and was related to Asp-clipped eptifibatide. It was formed from Asp-clipped eptifibatide by the reaction of the amino group of tryptophan moiety with formaldehyde followed by electrophilic attack on the nitrogen of indole.

AAPS/RAPS/CAPRA collaborative program: exploring the challenges of drug regulation in a global environment: clinical concerns

Globalization of the pharmaceutical industry has led to a need to harmonize the regulatory requirements governing the marketing of medicinal products. To minimize the barriers impeding global drug product registration, the International Conference on the Harmonization of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) was established in 1990. The ICH has developed a series of guidelines that reflect agreements reached by participating nations on aspects of the chemistry and clinical technical sections that will fulfill the regulatory requirements of these various jurisdications. Nevertheless, there continue to be points of divergent perspectives and barriers that can impede the use of foreign clinical data. Given the importance of these issues, the Regulatory Science (RS) section of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), in conjunction with the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) and the Canadian Association of Professional Regulatory Affairs (CAPRA) cosponsored a public forum on this topic. This manuscript provides a summary of the speaker presentations and audience discussions regarding the design of clinical trials and the extrapolation of results from these trials to support international drug registration.