Q3E Guideline for Extractables and Leachables; International Council for Harmonisation; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled "Q3E Guideline for Extractables and Leachables" and a draft supporting document entitled "Supporting Documentation: Class 3 Leachable Monographs." The draft guidance and supporting document were prepared under the auspices of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The draft guidance presents a holistic framework and process for the assessment and control of extractables and leachables (E&L) for pharmaceutical products. The draft guidance builds upon ICH impurity guidances on new drug substances (ICH Q3A) and new drug products (ICH Q3B), residual solvents (ICH Q3C), and elemental impurities (ICH Q3D), as well as DNA reactive (mutagenic) impurities (ICH M7). In addition to outlining E&L safety assessment principles, the draft guidance includes draft supporting documentation of Class 3 leachable monographs. The draft guidance is intended to provide approaches to risk-based assessment and control of E&L to ensure patient safety and pharmaceutical product quality.