Intravenous (IV) administration of many sterile drug products requires admixture preparation using a diluent, brief storage in an IV container, and dosing through an infusion device. To ensure patient safety and drug effi cacy, regulatory agencies require that the sterile drug product is compatible with the diluents and the infusion devices. Therefore, admixture compatibility and stability studies are key components of the pharmaceutical development process. On the surface these studies may seem straightforward, but in practice they require detailed planning, meticulous execution, and appropriate data analysis. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss various requirements and challenges associated with conducting IV admixture studies and the related regulatory guidance.
IntroductionIntravenous (IV) administration of many sterile drug products requires admixture preparation using a diluent prior to administration. A pharmaceutical admixture consists of a drug product mixed with an appropriate diluent in a suitable dosing/ delivery device for the purpose of parenteral infusion to the patient. Regulatory agencies, as a part of registration requirements, have listed specifi c requirements for the demonstration of the compatibility of the drug product with the diluents and with the infusion devices. For example, as per ICH Q8 guideline, the compatibility of the drug product with reconstitution diluents should cover the recommended in-use shelf life, at the recommended storage temperature and at the likely extremes of concentration (ICH 2009 ). Similarly, guidance for industry from the U.S.