QUALITY BY DESIGN COMPLIANT METHOD VALIDATION

Analytical method validation is a mandatory step to evaluate the ability of developed methods to provide accurate results for their routine application in order to trust the critical decisions that will be made with them. Even if several guidelines exist to help perform analytical method validations (ICH Q2R1 [1], USP <1225> [2], …) there is still the need to clarify the meaning and interpretation of analytical method validation criteria and methodology. Indeed, actually method validation is mostly realised as the traditional check list implementation of e.g. the ICH Q2R1 or USP <1225> method validation requirements.
However, within the trend of Quality by Design [3], there is the need to switch from this traditional vision to an analytical method validation really adding value and providing a high level of assurance of analytical methods results reliability. Yet, different interpretations can be made of the validation guidelines as well as for the definitions of the validation criteria. This will lead to diverse experimental designs implemented to try fulfilling these criteria. Finally, different decision methodologies can also be interpreted from these guidelines. Therefore, the risk that a validated analytical method may be unfit for its future purpose will depend on a personal interpretation of these guidelines.
The objective of this presentation is thus to show that analytical method validation should be planned and performed by first starting with the end in mind: what is the objective of the analytical methods under study?
In such a way analytical method validation is coherent with the actual Quality by Design regulatory expectations. The risk of having validated an analytical method unfit for its purpose is strongly reduced as well as the risk of generating Out of Specification (OOS) results due to an unfit method.

References
[1] International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, Topic Q2 (R1): Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology, Geneva, 2005.
[2] USP 33 NF 28 S1, U.S. Pharmacopeia, 2007. USP–NF General Chapter <1225>.
[3] International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, Topic Q8(R2): Pharmaceutical development, Geneva, 2009.