# Presentation: 355309

## Discussion Questions of Polymorphism in ANDAs Ken Morris

- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy
- Purdue University

## Questions for the SAB

- Do the proposed decision trees adequately address the key polymorph issues (stability and bioavailability) that should be considered in FDA's regulatory assessment on an ANDA?
- Decision Tree#1. Are there other issues with respect to characterization of polymorphic forms that FDA should consider?
- Decision Tree #3 addresses the necessity of having a polymorph spec for drug product when using the most stable or previously used form:
- Please comment on methods, approaches, and challenges for establishing specification for polymorphs in drug products. Also, in your experience, how often would you anticipate that such a specification necessary?
- What additional considerations, if any, should be addressed on the issue of manufacture-ability or "process-ability" when different polymorph forms are present?

## Decision Trees in My Opinion

- Represent a huge mentality advance over “check list” approach
- Encourages inclusion of proper scientific processes
- Removes incentive for “testing into compliance”
- Allows the industrial scientist to logically develop appropriate tests
- Facilitates rationale risk assessment by regulatory and management
- Levels the playing field for Generic companies by allowing the establishment of reasonable expectations based on the science

## Do the proposed decision trees adequately address the 	key polymorph issues ...
Decision Tree#1. Are there other issues with respect to characterization of polymorphic forms that FDA should consider?
	In the context of sameness including amorphous, solvates (stoichiometric and variable), adducts, etc.. under the umbrella of polymorphs: questions/caveats.

- Decision Tree#1. Are there other issues with respect to characterization of polymorphic forms that FDA should consider?
- 	In the context of sameness including amorphous, solvates (stoichiometric and variable), adducts, etc.. under the umbrella of polymorphs: questions/caveats.

- If polymorphs are not known or no monograph is available, do they have to be screened for?  If so, this should be in the table.
- The solubility determination of meta-stable forms must be scrutinized for conversion artifact.

- #1

## MP as an ID test for all of the forms under polymorphs is often problematic:  it must be carried out and analyzed carefully to avoid confusion if it is to be the only test.

- More revealing yet common tests may be much less ambiguous and require similar resources

- Matsuda et.a.

- #2

## Tighter specs may have to be negotiated with changing suppliers.
Includes differences in impurity profiles 
Final crystallization and drying conditions

- Includes differences in impurity profiles
- Final crystallization and drying conditions

**1) Different **
**     ****polymorphic form **
**2) Allow to establish **
**    ****tight specification**

- #2

## Levels of Difficulty: Reasonable Expectation in Characterization of Polymorphs

**Routine**
- Identification and quantitation of mixed phases in API
- XRD, DSC, IR, NIR
- Identification of “high” levels of mixed phase in Product
**Difficult (sometimes unreasonable on a case by case basis)**
- Quantitation of trace amounts of phases in API/product
- Synchrotron
- Raman mapping
- Advanced PXRD
- Quantitation of phases in Drug Product
- Particularly amorphous
**Cutting Edge**
- Prediction of crystal structures from powder XRD patterns

## What to Expect from the Different Solid Phases

## Dissolution testing may often be correlated to KNOWN transformations.

Given a demonstrated liability, should the statistics be improved?

Are other techniques less resource intensive than dissolution allowing better statistics with less incremental investment?

- Given a demonstrated liability, should the statistics be improved?
- Are other techniques less resource intensive than dissolution allowing better statistics with less incremental investment?

**“****Dissolution testing can frequently detect potential conversion of polymorphs. In rare cases, solid characterization methods have to be used.”**

- #3

## Here we need caveats for point 2 around amorphous and hydrated “polymorphs”.
Amorphous forms may have been stabilized by unique formulation/processing strategies not easily reproduced and should include a cautionary statement.  
Hydrates may be easily altered in subsequent processing
There should be a recognition of the possible need to “build in” in product characterization for meta-stable forms subjected to processing conditions producing conditions conducive to transformation

- Amorphous forms may have been stabilized by unique formulation/processing strategies not easily reproduced and should include a cautionary statement.
- Hydrates may be easily altered in subsequent processing
- There should be a recognition of the possible need to “build in” in product characterization for meta-stable forms subjected to processing conditions producing conditions conducive to transformation

**“****In general, there should not be a concern if ****1) The most stable polymorphic form is used or****2) The form is used in a previously commercialized product”**

- #3

## C. Approaches, and challenges for establishing specification for polymorphs in   drug products. Also, in your experience, how often would you anticipate that such a specification necessary? (I’d say only occasionally to the last part)

- PXRD method
- Range 3-30 % form A
- Method RSD 5%
- Good percent recovery

- Newman and Bugay

## Calibration Curves of Glycine Compacts

- Calculated detection limit: 0.5 % wt ( form), 0.8 % wt ( form)

- Cao and Morris (in press, JPharm Biomed Anal.)

## Questions for the SAB

- What additional considerations, if any, should be addressed on the issue of manufacture-ability or "process-ability" when different polymorph forms are present?

- Subject of ongoing research (Minnesota, Purdue, Companies)
- Issues should be addressed when potential is identified in formulation/process development.  This could be acknowledged in charts.
- Maybe valuable as background for companies in subsequent trouble shooting