This article looks at the role of technology in the workplace and specifically how the Senior BioPhorum Connect group is addressing issues such as the use of remote working technologies, cyber security and digitizing the cGMP space.
There are now available to the biopharmaceutical industry several alternative and rapid microbiological methods (ARMMs) for the detection and enumeration of microorganisms during testing. Regulatory authorities are encouraging the biopharmaceutical industry to adopt innovative technologies. Together these methods will lead to improved monitoring and assurance of control of biopharmaceutical processes and manufacturing environments, as well as shortened cycle times in the supply chain. This paper addresses the need for a systematic and best practice approach to the evaluation, validation and deployment of these methods. The absence of such best practice has hindered the adoption of ARMMs, resulting in slow adoption. A nine-step framework and common language is described which can be applied by biopharmaceutical companies wanting to take advantage of the numerous benefits of ARMMs.
This article presents an update on the efforts of the joint PDA and BioPhorum collaboration workstreams—masking studies, historical data mining, filter manufacturing and use risk assessments and PUPSIT risk assessment and the development of a best practice guide.
This paper is one in a series of publications that are the result of the collaboration, and these should be considered together and viewed holistically in order to determine the best course of action with regard to PUPSIT. This paper examines the test process and looks at the results of potential masking of sterilizing grade filters.
This article draws conclusions from the scientific studies, workstreams, and publications delivered by the Sterile Filtration Quality Risk Management (SFQRM) consortium formed between BioPhorum and PDA. It uses those conclusions to provide guidance to industry (sterile drug manufacturers, filter suppliers, and regulators) on the use of quality risk management principles and scientific data to prevent undetected non-integral sterilizing filters.
Eudralex volume 4, Annex 1, the EU GMP for sterile products, requires that ″The integrity of the sterilised filter should be verified before use · · ·″ (1). Implicit in this requirement for a pre-use, post-sterilization integrity test (PUPSIT) is the rationale that the sterilizing filter could sustain damage during sterilization or use (i.e. subsequent to any pre-use test conducted prior to sterilization), causing a defect which would not be detected by the post-use integrity test. That is, that such a defect could be ″masked″ during filtration.
To assess whether a filter defect could be masked by partial filter plugging the Consortium evaluated the impact of bacterial retention testing on the bubble point (BP) of the test filters.
The paper concludes that filtration processes producing bubble point changes sufficient to present a risk of masking defects are not common, and detectable during the routine BCT. Thus the BP ratios observed during routine bacterial retention testing is one means to assess the potential of a given filtration process for masking of defects and can be considered when determining whether a PUPSIT should be implemented.
Finish Biopharmaceutical Drug Products for a Modern Age is a formulation/fill-finish eBook containing two articles. One of these articles, written by Scott Ewan BioPhorum Fill Finish facilitator, brings together details on activity in the Container Closure Integrity workstream.
This benchmark details the current industry operating practices on gloves testing, surface disinfection and interventions in isolators. It includes the practices from 26 biopharma drug product sites from 14 member organizations. The survey has been used to share practices and consider the opportunities for joint improvement in the industry.
in more detail the survey compares glove inspection both visual and automatic integrity testing, disinfection and cleaning methods as we as the use of H2O2. Interventions, their categorization, tracking and approval, operator qualification and the handling of door seal failures.
The loss or delay of a batch for glove failure and uncertainties of glove management are perennial concerns for aseptic filling operations. Written by a team of industry practitioners who create, justify and manage glove programs, this guide defines current best practice and the actions we can all take to reduce risk. Specifically it enables users to understand glove-related risks, facilitating deviation investigations and building confidence when presenting to inspectors. Helps users understand the rationale for supplier recommendations about glove lifecycle management. Reduces the need for users to develop their own glove lifecycle management strategies and standardizes the language for collecting data in and across companies, that will support future benchmarking and improvement.
Investigations into environmental monitoring (EM) excursions can be prolonged and do not always result in clear root causes or CAPAs. This paper outlines how bio-fluorescent particle counting (BFPC) can be used in investigations to eliminate the inherent delays of culture-based methods. The application for investigations supplements routine EM; acting as a risk reduction tool enabling real-time detection of viable microorganisms in air samples − supporting root cause analysis and remedial actions. The paper includes guidance on how to use the technology, a real case study involving a mold excursion, and examples of business benefits achieved by various companies.