Guidance for Industry 

Q8 Pharmaceutical 

Development 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Food and Drug Administration 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) 

May 2006 

ICH 
Guidance for Industry 

Q8 Pharmaceutical 

Development 

Additional copies are available from: 

Office of Training and Communication 

Division of Drug Information, HFD-240 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 

Food and Drug Administration 

5600 Fishers Lane 

Rockville, MD 20857 

(Tel) 301-827-4573 

 http://www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm 

Office of Communication, Training and 

Manufacturers Assistance, HFM-40 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 

 Food and Drug Administration 

1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-1448 

 http://www.fda.gov/cber/guidelines.htm. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Food and Drug Administration 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) 

May 2006 

ICH 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. INTRODUCTION (1, 1.1)................................................................................................ 1

II. PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT (2) ............................................................... 2

A. Components of the Drug Product (2.1) ........................................................................................3

1. Drug Substance (2.1.1) ....................................................................................................................3

2. Excipients (2.1.2) .............................................................................................................................4

B. Drug Product (2.2) .........................................................................................................................4

1. Formulation Development (2.2.1)....................................................................................................4

2. Overages (2.2.2) ..............................................................................................................................5

3. Physicochemical and Biological Properties (2.2.3) ........................................................................5

C. Manufacturing Process Development (2.3)..................................................................................6

D. Container Closure System (2.4)....................................................................................................7

E. Microbiological Attributes (2.5) ...................................................................................................7

F. Compatibility (2.6) .........................................................................................................................8

III. GLOSSARY (3)................................................................................................................. 9
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Guidance for Industry1

Q8 Pharmaceutical Development 

This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic. It 

does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. 

You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes 

and regulations. If you want to discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff responsible for 

implementing this guidance. If you cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff, call the appropriate 

number listed on the title page of this guidance. 

I. INTRODUCTION (1, 1.1)2

This guidance describes the suggested contents for the 3.2.P.2 (Pharmaceutical Development) 

section of a regulatory submission in the ICH M4 Common Technical Document (CTD) format. 

The Pharmaceutical Development section provides an opportunity to present the knowledge 

gained through the application of scientific approaches and quality risk management (for 

definition, see ICH Q9 Quality Risk Management) to the development of a product and its 

manufacturing process. It is first produced for the original marketing application and can be 

updated to support new knowledge gained over the lifecycle3 of a product. The Pharmaceutical 

Development section is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of the product and 

manufacturing process for reviewers and inspectors. The guidance also indicates areas where the 

demonstration of greater understanding of pharmaceutical and manufacturing sciences can create 

a basis for flexible regulatory approaches. The degree of regulatory flexibility is predicated on 

the level of relevant scientific knowledge provided. 

FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable 

responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should 

be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are 

 

1 This guidance was developed within the Expert Working Group (Quality) of the International Conference on 

Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and has been 

subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH process. This document has been 

endorsed by the ICH Steering Committee at Step 4 of the ICH process, November 2005. At Step 4 of the process, 

the final draft is recommended for adoption to the regulatory bodies of the European Union, Japan, and the United 

States. 

2

 Arabic numbers reflect the organizational breakdown of the document endorsed by the ICH Steering Committee at 

Step 4 of the ICH process, November 2005. 

3

 Terms that appear in bold italic type in this guidance are defined in the glossary, section III (3). 
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cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or 

recommended, but not required.

Scope (1.2) 

This guidance is intended to provide guidance on the contents of section 3.2.P.2 (Pharmaceutical 

Development) for drug products as defined in the scope of Module 3 of the Common Technical 

Document (ICH M4: Common Technical Document for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for 

Human Use). The guidance does not apply to contents of submissions for drug products during 

the clinical research stages of drug development. However, the principles in this guidance are 

important to consider during those stages as well. This guidance might also be appropriate for 

other types of products. To determine the applicability of this guidance to a particular type of 

product, applicants can consult with the appropriate regulatory authorities. 

 

II. PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT (2) 

The aim of pharmaceutical development is to design a quality product and its manufacturing 

process to consistently deliver the intended performance of the product. The information and 

knowledge gained from pharmaceutical development studies and manufacturing experience 

provide scientific understanding to support the establishment of the design space, specifications, 

and manufacturing controls. 

Information from pharmaceutical development studies can be a basis for quality risk 

management. It is important to recognize that quality cannot be tested into products, i.e., quality 

should be built in by design. Changes in formulation and manufacturing processes during 

development and lifecycle management should be looked upon as opportunities to gain 

additional knowledge and further support establishment of the design space. Similarly, inclusion 

of relevant knowledge gained from experiments giving unexpected results can also be useful. 

Design space is proposed by the applicant and is subject to regulatory assessment and approval. 

Working within the design space is not considered as a change. Movement out of the design 

space is considered to be a change and would normally initiate a regulatory postapproval change 

process. 

The Pharmaceutical Development section should describe the knowledge that establishes that the 

type of dosage form selected and the formulation proposed are suitable for the intended use. This 

section should include sufficient information in each part to provide an understanding of the 

development of the drug product and its manufacturing process. Summary tables and graphs are 

encouraged where they add clarity and facilitate review. 

At a minimum, those aspects of drug substances, excipients, container closure systems, and 

manufacturing processes that are critical to product quality should be determined and control 

strategies justified. Critical formulation attributes and process parameters are generally identified 

through an assessment of the extent to which their variation can have impact on the quality of the 

drug product. 
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In addition, the applicant can choose to conduct pharmaceutical development studies that can 

lead to an enhanced knowledge of product performance over a wider range of material attributes, 

processing options and process parameters. Inclusion of this additional information in the 

Pharmaceutical Development section provides an opportunity to demonstrate a higher degree of 

understanding of material attributes, manufacturing processes, and their controls. This scientific 

understanding facilitates establishment of an expanded design space. In these situations, 

opportunities exist to develop more flexible regulatory approaches, for example, to facilitate: 

• risk-based regulatory decisions (reviews and inspections) 

• manufacturing process improvements, within the approved design space described in the 

dossier, without further regulatory review 

• reduction of postapproval submissions 

• real-time quality control, leading to a reduction of end-product release testing 

To realize this flexibility, the applicant should demonstrate an enhanced knowledge of product 

performance over a range of material attributes, manufacturing process options and process 

parameters. This understanding can be gained by application of, for example, formal 

experimental designs, process analytical technology (PAT), and/or prior knowledge. 

Appropriate use of quality risk management principles can be helpful in prioritizing the 

additional pharmaceutical development studies to collect such knowledge. 

The design and conduct of pharmaceutical development studies should be consistent with their 

intended scientific purpose. It should be recognized that the level of knowledge gained, and not 

the volume of data, provides the basis for science-based submissions and their regulatory 

evaluation. 

A. Components of the Drug Product (2.1) 

1. Drug Substance (2.1.1) 

The physicochemical and biological properties of the drug substance that can influence the 

performance of the drug product and its manufacturability, or were specifically designed into the 

drug substance (e.g., solid state properties), should be identified and discussed. Examples of 

physicochemical and biological properties that should be examined, as appropriate, include 

solubility, water content, particle size, crystal properties, biological activity, and permeability. 

These properties could be interrelated and, when appropriate, should be considered in 

combination. 

To evaluate the potential effect of drug substance physicochemical properties on the performance 

of the drug product, studies on drug product might be warranted. For example, ICH Q6A 

Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for New Drug Substances and New 

Drug Products: Chemical Substances describes some of the circumstances in which drug product 

studies are recommended (e.g., Decision Trees #3 and #4 (Part 2)). This approach applies equally 

for ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for 

Biotechnology/Biological Products. The knowledge gained from the studies investigating the 
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potential effect of drug substance properties on drug product performance can be used, as 

appropriate, to justify elements of the drug substance specification (3.2.S.4.5). 

The compatibility of the drug substance with excipients listed in 3.2.P.1 should be evaluated. For 

products that contain more than one drug substance, the compatibility of the drug substances 

with each other should also be evaluated. 

2. Excipients (2.1.2) 

The excipients chosen, their concentration, and the characteristics that can influence the drug 

product performance (e.g., stability, bioavailability) or manufacturability should be discussed 

relative to the respective function of each excipient. This should include all substances used in 

the manufacture of the drug product, whether they appear in the finished product or not (e.g., 

processing aids). Compatibility of excipients with other excipients, where relevant (for example, 

combination of preservatives in a dual preservative system), should be established. The ability of 

excipients (e.g., antioxidants, penetration enhancers, disintegrants, release controlling agents) to 

provide their intended functionality and to perform throughout the intended drug product shelf 

life should also be demonstrated. The information on excipient performance can be used, as 

appropriate, to justify the choice and quality attributes of the excipient and to support the 

justification of the drug product specification (3.2.P.5.6). 

Information to support the safety of excipients, when appropriate, should be cross-referenced 

(3.2.P.4.6). 

B. Drug Product (2.2) 

1. Formulation Development (2.2.1) 

A summary should be provided describing the development of the formulation, including 

identification of those attributes that are critical to the quality of the drug product, taking into 

consideration intended usage and route of administration. Information from formal experimental 

designs can be useful in identifying critical or interacting variables that might be important to 

ensure the quality of the drug product. 

The summary should highlight the evolution of the formulation design from initial concept up to 

the final design. This summary should also take into consideration the choice of drug product 

components (e.g., the properties of the drug substance, excipients, container closure system, any 

relevant dosing device), the manufacturing process, and, if appropriate, knowledge gained from 

the development of similar drug product(s). 

Any excipient ranges included in the batch formula (3.2.P.3.2) should be justified in the 

Pharmaceutical Development section of the application; this justification can often be based on 

the experience gained during development or manufacture. 

A summary of formulations used in clinical safety and efficacy and in any relevant 

bioavailability or bioequivalence studies should be provided. Any changes between the proposed 
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commercial formulation and those formulations used in pivotal clinical batches and primary 

stability batches should be clearly described and the rationale for the changes provided. 

Information from comparative in vitro studies (e.g., dissolution) or comparative in vivo studies 

(e.g., bioequivalence) that links clinical formulations to the proposed commercial formulation 

described in 3.2.P.1 should be summarized, and a cross-reference to the studies (with study 

numbers) should be provided. Where attempts have been made to establish an in vitro/in vivo 

correlation, the results of those studies and a cross-reference to the studies (with study numbers) 

should be provided in the Pharmaceutical Development section. A successful correlation can 

assist in the selection of appropriate dissolution acceptance criteria and can potentially reduce the 

need for further bioequivalence studies following changes to the product or its manufacturing 

process. 

Any special design features of the drug product (e.g., tablet score line, overfill, anticounterfeiting measure as it affects the drug product) should be identified and a rationale 

provided for their use. 

2. Overages (2.2.2) 

In general, use of an overage of a drug substance to compensate for degradation during 

manufacture or a product’s shelf life, or to extend shelf life, is discouraged. 

Any overages in the manufacture of the drug product, whether they appear in the final 

formulated product or not, should be justified considering the safety and efficacy of the product. 

Information should be provided on the (1) amount of overage, (2) reason for the overage (e.g., to 

compensate for expected and documented manufacturing losses), and (3) justification for the 

amount of overage. The overage should be included in the amount of drug substance listed in the 

batch formula (3.2.P.3.2). 

3. Physicochemical and Biological Properties (2.2.3) 

The physicochemical and biological properties relevant to the safety, performance, or 

manufacturability of the drug product should be identified and discussed. This includes the 

physiological implications of drug substance and formulation attributes. Studies could include, 

for example, the development of a test for respirable fraction of an inhaled product. Similarly, 

information supporting the selection of dissolution vs. disintegration testing (or other means to 

ensure drug release) and the development and suitability of the chosen test could be provided in 

this section. See also ICH Q6A Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for New 

Drug Substances and New Drug Products: Chemical Substances, Decision Tree #4 (Part 3) and 

Decision Tree #7 (Part 1) or ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria 

for Biotechnology/Biological Products. The discussion should cross-reference any relevant 

stability data in 3.2.P.8.3. 
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C. Manufacturing Process Development (2.3) 

The selection, the control, and any improvement of the manufacturing process described in 

3.2.P.3.3 (i.e., intended for commercial production batches) should be explained. It is important 

to consider the critical formulation attributes, together with the available manufacturing process 

options, in order to address the selection of the manufacturing process and confirm the 

appropriateness of the components. Appropriateness of the equipment used for the intended 

products should be discussed. Process development studies should provide the basis for process 

improvement, process validation, continuous process verification (where applicable), and any 

process control requirements. Where appropriate, such studies should address microbiological as 

well as physical and chemical attributes. The knowledge gained from process development 

studies can be used, as appropriate, to justify the drug product specification (3.2.P.5.6). 

The manufacturing process development program or process improvement program should 

identify any critical process parameters that should be monitored or controlled (e.g., granulation 

end point) to ensure that the product is of the desired quality. 

For those products intended to be sterile, an appropriate method of sterilization for the drug 

product and primary packaging material should be chosen and the choice justified. 

Significant differences between the manufacturing processes used to produce batches for pivotal 

clinical trials (safety, efficacy, bioavailability, bioequivalence) or primary stability studies and 

the process described in 3.2.P.3.3 should be discussed. The discussion should summarize the 

influence of the differences on the performance, manufacturability, and quality of the product. 

The information should be presented in a way that facilitates comparison of the processes and the 

corresponding batch analyses information (3.2.P.5.4). The information should include, for 

example, (1) the identity (e.g., batch number) and use of the batches produced (e.g., 

bioequivalence study batch number), (2) the manufacturing site, (3) the batch size, and (4) any 

significant equipment differences (e.g., different design, operating principle, size). 

In order to provide flexibility for future process improvement, when describing the development 

of the manufacturing process, it is useful to describe measurement systems that allow monitoring 

of critical attributes or process end-points. Collection of process monitoring data during the 

development of the manufacturing process can provide useful information to enhance process 

understanding. The process control strategies that provide process adjustment capabilities to 

ensure control of all critical attributes should be described. 

An assessment of the ability of the process to reliably produce a product of the intended quality 

(e.g., the performance of the manufacturing process under different operating conditions, at 

different scales, or with different equipment) can be provided. An understanding of process 

robustness can be useful in risk assessment and risk reduction (see ICH Q9 Quality Risk 

Management glossary for definition) and to support future manufacturing and process 

improvement, especially in conjunction with the use of risk management tools (see ICH Q9

Quality Risk Management). 
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D. Container Closure System (2.4) 

The choice and rationale for selection of the container closure system for the commercial product 

(described in 3.2.P.7) should be discussed. Consideration should be given to the intended use of 

the drug product and the suitability of the container closure system for storage and transportation 

(shipping), including the storage and shipping container for bulk drug product, where 

appropriate. 

 

The choice of materials for primary packaging should be justified. The discussion should 

describe studies performed to demonstrate the integrity of the container and closure. A possible 

interaction between product and container or label should be considered. 

The choice of primary packaging materials should consider, e.g., choice of materials, protection 

from moisture and light, compatibility of the materials of construction with the dosage form 

(including sorption to container and leaching), and safety of materials of construction. 

Justification for secondary packaging materials should be included, when relevant. 

 

If a dosing device is used (e.g., dropper pipette, pen injection device, dry powder inhaler), it is 

important to demonstrate that a reproducible and accurate dose of the product is delivered under 

testing conditions that, as far as possible, simulate the use of the product. 

E. Microbiological Attributes (2.5) 

Where appropriate, the microbiological attributes of the drug product should be discussed in this 

section (3.2.P.2.5). The discussion should include, for example: 

• The rationale for performing or not performing microbial limits testing for non sterile drug 

products (e.g., Decision Tree #8 in ICH Q6A Specifications: Test Procedures and 

Acceptance Criteria for New Drug Substances and New Drug Products: Chemical 

Substances and ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for 

Biotechnology/Biological Products)

• The selection and effectiveness of preservative systems in products containing antimicrobial 

preservative or the antimicrobial effectiveness of products that are inherently antimicrobial 

• For sterile products, the integrity of the container closure system as it relates to preventing 

microbial contamination 

Although chemical testing for preservative content is the attribute normally included in the drug 

product specification, antimicrobial preservative effectiveness should be demonstrated during 

development. The lowest specified concentration of antimicrobial preservative should be 

demonstrated to be effective in controlling microorganisms by using an antimicrobial 

preservative effectiveness test. The concentration used should be justified in terms of efficacy 

and safety, such that the minimum concentration of preservative that gives the required level of 

efficacy throughout the intended shelf life of the product is used. Where relevant, microbial 
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challenge testing under testing conditions that, as far as possible, simulate patient use should be 

performed during development and documented in this section. 

F. Compatibility (2.6) 

The compatibility of the drug product with reconstitution diluents (e.g., precipitation, stability) 

should be addressed to provide appropriate and supportive information for the labeling. This 

information should cover the recommended in-use shelf life, at the recommended storage 

temperature and at the likely extremes of concentration. Similarly, admixture or dilution of 

products prior to administration (e.g., product added to large volume infusion containers) should 

be addressed. 
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III. GLOSSARY (3) 

Continuous Process Verification: An alternative approach to process validation in which 

manufacturing process performance is continuously monitored and evaluated. 

Design Space: The multidimensional combination and interaction of input variables (e.g., 

material attributes) and process parameters that have been demonstrated to provide assurance of 

quality. Working within the design space is not considered as a change. Movement out of the 

design space is considered to be a change and would normally initiate a regulatory postapproval 

change process. Design space is proposed by the applicant and is subject to regulatory 

assessment and approval. 

Formal Experimental Design: A structured, organized method for determining the relationship 

between factors affecting a process and the output of that process. Also known as “Design of 

Experiments.” 

Lifecycle: All phases in the life of a product from the initial development through marketing 

until the product’s discontinuation. 

Process Analytical Technology (PAT): A system for designing, analyzing, and controlling 

manufacturing through timely measurements (i.e., during processing) of critical quality and 

performance attributes of raw and in-process materials and processes with the goal of ensuring 

final product quality. 

Process Robustness: Ability of a process to tolerate variability of materials and changes of the 

process and equipment without negative impact on quality. 

Quality: The suitability of either a drug substance or drug product for its intended use. This 

term includes such attributes as the identity, strength, and purity (from ICH Q6A Specifications: 

Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for New Drug Substances and New Drug Products: 

Chemical Substances).