No-no

Draft guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 18, 2024

17

Key Points: 
    • 17

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and
      nasal medicinal products

      18

      Table of contents

      19

      Executive summary ..................................................................................... 3

      20

      1.

    • Lifecycle management ........................................................................................ 28

      49

      Definitions ................................................................................................. 29

      16

      50
      51

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 2/30

      52

      Executive summary

      53

      This guideline is the first revision of the guideline on pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal

      54

      products (EMEA/CHMP/QWP/49313/2005 Corr).

    • Quality aspects specific to inhalation and nasal medicinal products are discussed, the need for

      66

      safety testing (e.g., for excipients and leachables) is also considered.

    • 69

      Detailed guidance on pharmaceutical development study designs (e.g., priming studies) and the

      70

      analytical procedures primarily used for inhalation and nasal medicinal products (e.g., cascade

      71

      impactor analysis) is not included in this guideline.

    • Scope

      74

      The guideline addresses requirements "on the quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products" in

      75

      new marketing authorisation applications, including abridged applications.

    • Liquid inhalation anaesthetics and nasal ointments, creams and gels are

      88

      excluded, however the general principles described in this guideline should be considered.

    • 118

      Different polymorphic forms including any amorphous content could affect the quality or performance

      119

      of the finished medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 4/30

      132

      The primary packaging, type of inhaler and, if necessary, the secondary packaging or other

      133

      components required for reasons of stability should be described.

    • Pharmaceutical
      development study

      (a) Physical
      characterisation
      (b) Minimum fill
      justification
      (c) Extractable
      volume

      Pressurised

      Dry powder

      Preparations for

      Non-

      metered-

      inhalers (DPI)

      nebulisation

      pressurised

      dose

      metered-

      Device-

      Pre-

      Single-

      Multi-

      (pMDI)

      metered

      metered

      dose

      dose

      inhalers

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      No

      No

      inhalers

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      dose

      Page 5/30

      Table 4.2.1.

    • The last doses delivered by

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 7/30

      179

      the inhaler as defined by the label claim, should meet the finished medicinal product specification limits

      180

      for delivered dose and fine particle dose.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 9/30

      263
      264

      4.2.2.8.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 11/30

      345

      Instructions regarding cold temperature use should be provided in the product information.

    • Finished medicinal
      product

      Pressurised

      Dry powder inhalers

      Preparations for

      metered-

      (DPI)

      nebulisation

      dose

      Nonpressurised
      metered-dose

      Device-

      Pre-

      Single-

      Multi-

      (pMDI)

      metered

      metered

      dose

      dose

      inhalers

      (a) Description

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      (b) Assay

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      (c) Moisture content

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      specification test

      (d) Mean delivered
      dose
      (e) Uniformity of
      delivered dose

      inhalers

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 15/30

      Table 4.2.2.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 16/30

      510

      4.2.5.4.

    • The proposed specification limits should take into account the shelf-life performance of the
      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 17/30

      552

      medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 18/30

      586

      All medical devices, including inhalers and nasal devices, have to fulfil the general requirements as

      587

      outlined in the Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745.

    • Stability (CTD 3.2.P.8)

      598

      All inhalation medicinal products should be tested on stability against the stability indicating tests

      599

      included in the finished medicinal product specification.

    • Quality data requirements as

      619

      described in this guideline should be met, supplemented by appropriate comparative quality and

      620

      clinical data with respect to the chosen reference medicinal product.

    • 621

      For inhalation medicinal products comparative in vitro data between the abridged application medicinal

      622

      product and the reference medicinal product must be provided.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 20/30

      670

      Nature and contents of container: The type of the device and its components should be listed.

    • Nasal medicinal products

      695

      Inhalation and nasal medicinal products have many similarities and therefore, most of the

      696

      requirements specified for inhalation medicinal products in section 4 also apply for nasal medicinal

      697

      products.

    • One difference between inhalation and nasal medicinal products is the desired

      698

      particle/droplet size of the finished medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 21/30

      704

      5.2.

    • Nasal liquids
      Pharmaceutical
      development
      study

      Pressurised

      Nasal

      metered-

      powders,

      dose nasal

      device-

      spray

      metered

      NonSingledose
      drops

      Multidose
      drops

      Single-

      pressurised

      dose

      multidose

      spray

      metereddose spray

      (a) Physical
      characterisation
      (b) Minimum fill
      justification
      (d) Extractables /
      leachables

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      (f) Particle /
      droplet size
      distribution
      (g) Uniformity of
      delivered dose
      through container
      life
      (j) Actuator /
      mouthpiece
      deposition

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 22/30

      Table 5.2.1.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 23/30

      728

      5.2.2.2.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 24/30

      769

      5.2.5.

    • Quality data requirements as described in

      799

      this guideline should be met, supplemented by appropriate comparative quality and clinical data with

      800

      respect to the chosen reference medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 27/30

      849

      5.5.

    • 866

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 28/30

      867

      Definitions
      Activation:

      The act of setting in motion the delivery device.

    • Delivery device:

      The sum of component(s) of the container closure system responsible for
      delivering the active substance to the respiratory tract (inhalation medicinal
      product) or the nasal and/or pharyngeal region (nasal medicinal product).

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 29/30

      Label claim:

      The amount of active substance (usually on a per actuation basis) declared
      on the label of the medicinal product.

    • Nasal medicinal

      A finished medicinal product (including the delivery device, where

      product:

      applicable) whose intended site of deposition is the nasal and/or pharyngeal
      region.

    • 868
      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 30/30

Draft guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 18, 2024

17

Key Points: 
    • 17

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and
      nasal medicinal products

      18

      Table of contents

      19

      Executive summary ..................................................................................... 3

      20

      1.

    • Lifecycle management ........................................................................................ 28

      49

      Definitions ................................................................................................. 29

      16

      50
      51

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 2/30

      52

      Executive summary

      53

      This guideline is the first revision of the guideline on pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal

      54

      products (EMEA/CHMP/QWP/49313/2005 Corr).

    • Quality aspects specific to inhalation and nasal medicinal products are discussed, the need for

      66

      safety testing (e.g., for excipients and leachables) is also considered.

    • 69

      Detailed guidance on pharmaceutical development study designs (e.g., priming studies) and the

      70

      analytical procedures primarily used for inhalation and nasal medicinal products (e.g., cascade

      71

      impactor analysis) is not included in this guideline.

    • Scope

      74

      The guideline addresses requirements "on the quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products" in

      75

      new marketing authorisation applications, including abridged applications.

    • Liquid inhalation anaesthetics and nasal ointments, creams and gels are

      88

      excluded, however the general principles described in this guideline should be considered.

    • 118

      Different polymorphic forms including any amorphous content could affect the quality or performance

      119

      of the finished medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 4/30

      132

      The primary packaging, type of inhaler and, if necessary, the secondary packaging or other

      133

      components required for reasons of stability should be described.

    • Pharmaceutical
      development study

      (a) Physical
      characterisation
      (b) Minimum fill
      justification
      (c) Extractable
      volume

      Pressurised

      Dry powder

      Preparations for

      Non-

      metered-

      inhalers (DPI)

      nebulisation

      pressurised

      dose

      metered-

      Device-

      Pre-

      Single-

      Multi-

      (pMDI)

      metered

      metered

      dose

      dose

      inhalers

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      No

      No

      inhalers

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      dose

      Page 5/30

      Table 4.2.1.

    • The last doses delivered by

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 7/30

      179

      the inhaler as defined by the label claim, should meet the finished medicinal product specification limits

      180

      for delivered dose and fine particle dose.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 9/30

      263
      264

      4.2.2.8.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 11/30

      345

      Instructions regarding cold temperature use should be provided in the product information.

    • Finished medicinal
      product

      Pressurised

      Dry powder inhalers

      Preparations for

      metered-

      (DPI)

      nebulisation

      dose

      Nonpressurised
      metered-dose

      Device-

      Pre-

      Single-

      Multi-

      (pMDI)

      metered

      metered

      dose

      dose

      inhalers

      (a) Description

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      (b) Assay

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      (c) Moisture content

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      specification test

      (d) Mean delivered
      dose
      (e) Uniformity of
      delivered dose

      inhalers

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 15/30

      Table 4.2.2.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 16/30

      510

      4.2.5.4.

    • The proposed specification limits should take into account the shelf-life performance of the
      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 17/30

      552

      medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 18/30

      586

      All medical devices, including inhalers and nasal devices, have to fulfil the general requirements as

      587

      outlined in the Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745.

    • Stability (CTD 3.2.P.8)

      598

      All inhalation medicinal products should be tested on stability against the stability indicating tests

      599

      included in the finished medicinal product specification.

    • Quality data requirements as

      619

      described in this guideline should be met, supplemented by appropriate comparative quality and

      620

      clinical data with respect to the chosen reference medicinal product.

    • 621

      For inhalation medicinal products comparative in vitro data between the abridged application medicinal

      622

      product and the reference medicinal product must be provided.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 20/30

      670

      Nature and contents of container: The type of the device and its components should be listed.

    • Nasal medicinal products

      695

      Inhalation and nasal medicinal products have many similarities and therefore, most of the

      696

      requirements specified for inhalation medicinal products in section 4 also apply for nasal medicinal

      697

      products.

    • One difference between inhalation and nasal medicinal products is the desired

      698

      particle/droplet size of the finished medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 21/30

      704

      5.2.

    • Nasal liquids
      Pharmaceutical
      development
      study

      Pressurised

      Nasal

      metered-

      powders,

      dose nasal

      device-

      spray

      metered

      NonSingledose
      drops

      Multidose
      drops

      Single-

      pressurised

      dose

      multidose

      spray

      metereddose spray

      (a) Physical
      characterisation
      (b) Minimum fill
      justification
      (d) Extractables /
      leachables

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yesa

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      Yes

      No

      No

      Yes

      Yes

      (f) Particle /
      droplet size
      distribution
      (g) Uniformity of
      delivered dose
      through container
      life
      (j) Actuator /
      mouthpiece
      deposition

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 22/30

      Table 5.2.1.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 23/30

      728

      5.2.2.2.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 24/30

      769

      5.2.5.

    • Quality data requirements as described in

      799

      this guideline should be met, supplemented by appropriate comparative quality and clinical data with

      800

      respect to the chosen reference medicinal product.

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 27/30

      849

      5.5.

    • 866

      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 28/30

      867

      Definitions
      Activation:

      The act of setting in motion the delivery device.

    • Delivery device:

      The sum of component(s) of the container closure system responsible for
      delivering the active substance to the respiratory tract (inhalation medicinal
      product) or the nasal and/or pharyngeal region (nasal medicinal product).

    • Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 29/30

      Label claim:

      The amount of active substance (usually on a per actuation basis) declared
      on the label of the medicinal product.

    • Nasal medicinal

      A finished medicinal product (including the delivery device, where

      product:

      applicable) whose intended site of deposition is the nasal and/or pharyngeal
      region.

    • 868
      Guideline on the pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
      EMA/CHMP/20607/2024

      Page 30/30