Use of Stability Studies in Drug, Combination Products & Medical Device Development are Reviewed in New Whitepaper

AGAWAM, MASS. — October 22, 2013 —The use of stability testing in new product development — of drug substances, drug products, combination products and some medical devices — is reviewed in a new whitepaper from Microtest Laboratories, a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries.

The paper, “The Use of Stability Studies in Pharmaceutical and Combination Product Development” (download from: http://microtestlabs.com/stability-studies), outlines how stability studies can be used to gather valuable information about a new product and prevent unnecessary manufacturing costs and time delays.

Stability studies can help determine formulation and manufacturing strategy, analytical assay development and validation — and help explain unexpected and failing results. They can also provide input to manufacturing controls, and help identify final packaging requirements. The paper examines three specialized stability studies as examples:

• Forced degradation studies, which involve exposing the product to predetermined stress conditions in order to intentionally form likely degradation products;
• Photostability testing, used to determine the product’s ability to withstand exposure to light without any adverse effects;
• Temperature cycling studies, used to assess the impact of temperature changes on the product.

Two case studies, one involving a drug product and one a combination product, are also presented.

The use of stability studies in the development of new drug or combination products can ease both the planning and execution of a development strategy. Moreover, the studies may also help prevent unnecessary costs and time delays due to poor formulations, assay failures, and manufacturing problems.

Download the new whitepaper, “The Use of Stability Studies in Pharmaceutical and Combination Product Development,” from: http://microtestlabs.com/stability-studies.

About Microtest Laboratories

Microtest Laboratories is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company provides expertise and flexible processes that enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.