PERSPECTIVE FOR REVIEW OF CDSCO - B.A. / B.E. STUDY GUIDELINES

 

1.   Applicability of this guidance document:

i           Prospective/Retrospective : Whether this document will have effect only on Drug Applications that are received after its notification or data will be solicitated for products that are already in the market.

ii        Applicable for:

o         All products otherwise justified scientifically or

o         Products that have been identified as problematic and all new products or

o         All products (new or old) having characteristics identified as problematic or

o         All new products or

o         All new products otherwise justified scientifically or

o         All new products having characteristics identified as problematic

iii                  Applicability for post approval changes in approved products :

Whether the guidance document will be applicable for changes in the formulation and manufacturing process that are made after approval.

If yes, do we have the mechanism to ensure that all manufacturers disclose their true formula and manufacturing process in the License application and will disclose all subsequent changes made.

iv                  Whether feasible to write in two parts:

o         Certain aspects as law

o         Elaborate methodology as guideline

 

2.      Comparator product:

How do we define the Comparator product for comparing the bioavailability ? Should it be the :

o         Innovator product marketed in the inventor country

o         Innovator product marketed in India

o         All approved products

o         Product(s) first approved in India

o         Listed reference products

 

·             Manufacturer doing “Bridging Clinical Trials” in India should also do Bioequivalence Study with the innovator product abroad so that the Pharmacokinetic profile matches that of Innovator who has done extensive clinical trials.

 

·             If this guidance is applicable for all new applications (whether for ‘New’ or ‘Old’ drugs), which one will be the comparator product for old drugs. For example, if we solicit bioequivalence study for a marketing application for a new gresiofulvin formulation (which is known to have significant bioavailability problems), what will be the comparator product for the same since we are not confident about the performance of formulations that are already in the market)

 

3.      Ongoing Survelliance:

 

4.   Batch Size of Test Product:

o         Need not be specified

o         Pilot scale batch

o         Pilot scale batch – at least 10,000 tablets

o         Pilot scale batch, 1/10th the size of the proposed production batch or 100000 tablets which ever is more.

 

5.   Fed state bioavailability studies:

o         Not required

o         Required in case of NDA and not SNDA

o         Required in case the product has shown some food interaction

o         Required for all modified release products

o         Required unless both test & reference products are:

§          Rapidly dissolving (BCS-I)

§          If labeling indicates that the product is to be taken on empty stomach or no mention of food effect

 

6.   Design and conduct of study:

No. of volunteers/subjects :

o         Should the number be defined such as – 12, 18, 24…

o         Statistically significant number

o         Statistically significant number but not less than 12

o         Not less than 12

 

7.   Subject selection:

o         Subjects could belong to either sex

o         Subjects should belong to either sex

 

8.   Volume of fluid for ingestion of samples

o         At least 150ml but should be constant for all

o         200 ml

o         240 ml

 

9.      Comparative dissolution profile

Should we ask for :

o         Comparative dissolution profile as complimentary to bioequivalence study.

o         Comparative dissolution profile as complimentary to bioequivalence study, with in-vitro-in-vivo correlation

o         Comparative dissolution profile for Biowaivers only

 

10.  Criteria for Biowaivers :

Should we adopt the Biopharmaceutical Classification of Drugs and give biowaivers for BCS Class I drug (highly soluble and highly permeable drugs formulated as Rapid dissolving formulations).

In case we go ahead with the same,

·          Do we ask for the manufacturer to prove that it is a Class I drug or scientific publications providing proof of it being a Class I drug will be acceptable.

·          will it be feasible for manufacturers in our country to carry out the permeability studies in Cell lines like CACO2 Cells.

 

11. Bioequivalence study in case of different strength formulations

o         Highest strength to be used

o         Only one strength required and choice should be based on analytical, pharmacokinetic and safety grounds.

 

12.   Whether the following need to be included in the Guidance document :

·          Requirements for Clinical Centre conducting Bioavailability / Bioequivalence studies.

·          Details regarding :

o         Bioanalytical method validation

o         In-Vitro drug dissolution methodology

o         Biopharmaceutical Classification System and Biowaivers

o         Statistical methodology for Data evaluation

 

Proposed Contents for the Bioavailability / Bioequivalence Guidelines

 

 

1.                   Introduction

2.                   Glossary / Terminology / Definitions

3.                   Applicability for :

o         IND

o         NDA

o         SNDA

o         Post approval changes

4.                   Facilities for conducting BA/BE Studies

5.                   Design and Conduct of Studies

A.      Orally administered drug products

i           Pharmacokinetic Studies

o         General considerations

o         Study design

o         Study population

o         Bioanalytical methodology

o         Pharmacokinetic parameters

o         Statistical evaluation

ii         Pharmacodynamic Studies

iii        Comparative Clinical Trials

iv       In-vitro Studies

o         Dissolution testing for immediate release products

o         Dissolution testing for modified release products

B.      Non-oral Drug Products

o         Dosage forms for topical application

o         Dosage forms for nasal administration

 

6.                   Biowaivers

7.                   Documentation

8.                   Maintenance of records of BA/BE studies

9.                   Retention of BA/BE samples

10.               Special Topics

o         Food effect bioavailability studies

o         Individual and population bioequivalence

o         Narrow therapeutic range drugs

 

Topics not covered in the existing
Draft Guidelines on Bioavailability / Bioequivalence

 

 

1.                   Bio-waivers based on established scientific principles

2.                   Applicability for :

o         IND

o         NDA

o         Post ‘Market Authorisation’ changes in formulations

3.                   Design and Conduct of BA / BE Studies for Non-Oral drug products

4.                   Pharmacodynamic studies as means to evaluate BA/BE

5.                   Comparative clinical trials as means to evaluate BA/BE

6.                   In-vitro drug release studies as means to evaluate BA/BE

7.                   Maintenance of records of BA/BE studies

8.                   Retention of BA/BE samples

9.                   Special Topics

o         Food effect bioavailability studies

o         Individual and population bioequivalence

o         Narrow therapeutic range drugs


Documents which may be consulted for drafting Bioavailability / Bioequivalence Guidelines for India:

I. Indian Documents

1.

Draft guidelines for Bioavailability / Bioequivalence studies on conventional and extended release dosage forms.

Draft BE Studies Document for Peer Review.doc

2.

GCP Guidelines

(www.cdsco.nic.in)

Indian Good Clinical Practices.htm

II. WHO Documents (www.who.int)

1.

Multisource (Generic) Pharmaceutical Products: Guidelines on Registration Requirements to Establish Interchangeability.

Multisource generics.htm

2.

Guidance on the selection of comparator pharmaceutical products for equivalence assessment of interchangeable multisource (generic) products

Comparator.pdf

III. USFDA Documents (www.fda.gov)

1.

21CFR320: Bioavailability and bioequivalence requirements

21CFR320.htm

2.

Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Orally Administered Drug Products — General Considerations 

(Issued 10/2000)

3615fnl.pdf

3.

Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Orally Administered Drug Products — General Considerations

(Draft-Issued 7/2002)

4964dft.pdf

4.

Statistical Approaches to Establishing Bioequivalence

(Issued 2/2001)

3616fnl.pdf

5.

Waiver of In Vivo Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms Based on a Biopharmaceutics Classification System. 

(Issued 8/2000)

3618fnl.pdf

6.

Bioanalytical Method Validation

(Issued 5/2001)

 

4252fnl.pdf

7.

Dissolution Testing of Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms (Issued 8/1997)

 

1713bp1.pdf

8.

Extended Release Oral Dosage Forms: Development, Evaluation, and Application of In Vitro/In Vivo Correlations

(Issued 9/1997)

 

1306fnl.pdf

9.

Food-Effect Bioavailability and Fed Bioequivalence Studies

(Issued 12/2002)

5194fnl.pdf

10.

Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Nasal Aerosols and Nasal Sprays for Local Action

(Draft - Issued 6/1999)

 

2070dft.pdf

11.

Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Nasal Aerosols and Nasal Sprays for Local Action –  Statistical Information for In Vitro Bioequivalence Data

(Draft - Issued 8/1999)

2070stat.pdf

12.

In Vivo Bioequivalence Studies Based on Population and Individual Bioequivalence Studies

(Draft -  Issued 10/1997)

1716dft.pdf

13.

In Vivo Bioequivalence Studies Based on Population and Individual Bioequivalence Studies -

Bioequivalence Studies Data and Detailed Statistical Methodology

(Draft - Posted 02/1998)

 

index.htm

bioequiv.zip

14.

SUPAC-IR: Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Scale-Up and Post-Approval Changes: Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls, In Vitro Dissolution Testing, and In Vivo Bioequivalence Documentation

 

cmc5.pdf

15.

SUPAC-MR: Modified Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms Scale-Up and Postapproval Changes: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls; In Vitro Dissolution Testing and In Vivo Bioequivalence Documentation

(Issued 06/1997)

 

1214fnl.pdf

16.

SUPAC-SS: Nonsterile Semisolid Dosage Forms; Scale-Up and Post-Approval Changes: Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls; In Vitro Release Testing and In Vivo Bioequivalence Documentation

(Issued 5/1997)

 

1447fnl.pdf

IV. EMEA Documents (www.eudra.org)

1.

Note For Guidance on the Investigation of Bioavailability and Bioequivalence

140198en.pdf

2.

Note For Guidance on Modified Release Oral and Transdermal Dosage Forms: Section II (PharmacoKinetic and Clinical Evaluation) 

028096en.pdf

3.

Note for Guidance on Fixed Combination Medicinal Products

024095en.pdf

4.

Note for Guidance on the Clinical Requirements for Locally Applied, Locally Acting Products containing Known Constituents

023995en.pdf

 

Comments on the Draft Guidelines on Bioavailability / Bioequivalence

 

1.                   Introduction :

1.2        Justification for an ER formulation – Not required

1.3        Need for Bioeq. Studies for ER products – Not required

1.4        Labelling requirements – Not required

            Checklist of activities for Auditors – May be given as an appendix

 

2.                   Definitions :

2.2        Bioequivalence – Needs to be redefined

2.35      Bibliography – Not required at this point

 

3.         Organization :

3.1               Legal identity – Appropriate statuatory body should be defined

3.4        Documented SOPs: List need not be given

3.6               No. of Volunteers required has been mentioned as 12 which may not be statistically appropriate.

It has been mentioned (which need not be mentioned) that additional space for should be provided:

§          Wet chemical lab

§          Instrumentation lab

§          Library

§          Computers

4.       Protocol :

4.2        Objective of the study – Reason for choosing the innovator product – Not required

4.3        Drug information : Not required

 

5.       Protocol and study design for Extended release dosage forms :

5.1        Requirements for studies – Need to be redefined

5.2.1 to 5.2.5 – Can be same as for conventional dosage forms

5.2.14   Statistical Analysis - Needs to be redefined

 

6.0               Methodology - Needs to be redefined

9.0        In-vitro dissolution - Needs to be redefined

13.0      Waiver requirements – Need to be redefined