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As a general rule, medicinal products tend to degrade and deteriorate over time. The longer a product is stored, the greater the likelihood of its degradation. This is an important consideration when determining the shelf life of a medicinal product.
2. Storage conditions
Storage conditions, particularly temperature, relative humidity, and exposure to light, play a significant role in the stability of medicinal products. Higher temperatures and humidity levels accelerate the deterioration of dosage forms.
Exposure to light can also lead to increased decomposition. For photosensitive medicines, it is essential to store them in glass amber bottles and keep them in a dark place to maintain their stability.
3. Type of dosage forms
The chemical stability of a medicinal product is influenced by its dosage form. Liquid dosage forms, such as solutions and semisolid forms containing water, are more prone to degradation compared to solid dosage forms. The presence of water makes these forms more susceptible to hydrolysis and other degradation processes.
4. Container and closure system
The choice of container and closure system has a significant impact on the stability of medicinal products. The moisture content within the packaging plays a critical role in the chemical degradation of pharmaceutical formulations. Pharmaceutical companies carefully select primary packages with suitable moisture-barrier properties to control the effects of humidity.
Impermeable containers allow stability studies to be conducted under controlled or ambient humidity conditions. However, it is important to note that glass vials with rubber stoppers may not be considered impermeable by regulatory authorities.
Therefore, stability testing for products stored in impermeable containers can be performed under any controlled or ambient moisture conditions. It should be noted, however, that glass vials with a rubber stopper are not automatically defined as impermeable by any regulatory agency.
However, ICH Q1 A(R2) requires that water-based products packaged in semi-permeable containers be evaluated for potential water loss in addition to physical, chemical, biological and microbiological stability.
For non-aqueous products, but solvent-based products, other similar methods may be developed and reported. This evaluation can be performed under conditions of low relative humidity, as discussed below.
Figure 1: Storage conditions prescribed by ICH
Ultimately, it should be demonstrated that water-based drugs stored in semi-permeable containers can withstand low relative humidity environments. This evaluation can be performed by conducting a stability study under low relative humidity conditions.
The conditions prescribed by the ICH are listed in the table above. An alternative approach is to perform the stability study at a higher relative humidity and derive the water loss at the reference relative humidity by calculations.
Conclusion
The stability of medicinal products is influenced by several factors, including storage time, storage conditions, dosage form, and container and closure systems. Pharmaceutical companies must carefully consider these factors when determining the shelf life of a medicinal product.
Understanding and controlling these variables is essential for maintaining the potency, safety, and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals, ultimately ensuring the well-being of patients who rely on them.
By conducting comprehensive stability studies and following regulatory guidelines, manufacturers can ensure that their medicinal products maintain their stability throughout their intended shelf life.
