RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Inherent Visible Particles for Biopharmaceutical Products JF PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology JO PDA J Pharm Sci Technol FD Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) SP 134 OP 142 DO 10.5731/pdajpst.2015.006064 VO 70 IS 2 A1 Cash, Patricia W. A1 Narwal, Roja A1 Levitskaya, Sophia V. A1 Krause, Stephan A1 Murphy, Derek A1 Mazaheri, Maryam YR 2016 UL http://journal.pda.org/content/70/2/134.abstract AB Visible particles must be monitored as part of the control strategy for pharmaceutical products. Extraneous (foreign) particles are not acceptable in parenteral drug products. In biopharmaceuticals, formation of protein particles is recognized as an inherent quality attribute. All protein therapeutics contain particles that vary greatly in visibility and size from invisible (sub-micron) to visible (millimeter) and, as part of the control strategy, biopharmaceutical companies are required to monitor and minimize the presence of visible and sub-visible particles in their products. There is an industry-wide unmet need for particle standards for visual inspection of protein therapeutics. A new, semi-quantitative method using particle standards for assessing the levels of small, inherent visible particles is presented. This method can be used during product development to identify a formulation that minimizes particle formation and also during release and stability testing to monitor and control inherent proteinaceous visible particles.LAY ABSTRACT: Visible particles must be monitored as part of the control strategy for parenteral biopharmaceutical drug products. In these products, formation of protein particles is a natural occurrence. All protein drugs contain particles that vary greatly in visibility and size from invisible (sub-micron) to visible (millimeter), and pharmaceutical companies are required to monitor and minimize the presence of visible and sub-visible particles in their products. There is an industry-wide unmet need for particle standards for visual inspection of protein drugs. A new, semi-quantitative method using particle standards for assessing the levels of small, naturally occurring visible particles is presented. This method can be used during drug development to identify a formulation that minimizes particle formation and also during testing of final clinical or commercial drug product to monitor and control naturally occurring proteinaceous visible particles.