Data-driven approach to mitigate quality impact of hygroscopic pharmaceutical raw materials throughout the supply chain.

The challenges of working with hygroscopic pharmaceutical raw materials can have a significant impact on the industry's ability to make high-quality medicines. In order to mitigate the impact to the manufacturing process or product quality it is critical to understand the hygroscopicity of the raw materials across the entire supply chain so that the proper management strategies can be implemented, from the raw material manufacturing to the use of the raw material in the drug manufacturing process. Employing suitable controls protects these materials from physical and chemical changes due to moisture uptake such as caking or hydrolysis. We have developed a fit for purpose and data-driven approach to hygroscopicity classifications of over 200 commonly used chemicals, excipients, media and resins in drug manufacturing processes. Dynamic vapor sorption data is presented with supporting thermal gravimetric analysis and X-ray powder diffraction data where pertinent. Approximately 60% of all raw materials tested were determined to be hygroscopic. Strategies for applying this data to reduce the potential impact of hygroscopic materials on the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals are discussed with examples.

Discovery of N-(4-(3-(2-aminopyrimidin-4-yl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl)-4-(4-methylthiophen-2-yl)phthalazin-1-amine (AMG 900), a highly selective, orally bioavailable inhibitor of aurora kinases with activity against multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines.

Efforts to improve upon the physical properties and metabolic stability of Aurora kinase inhibitor 14a revealed that potency against multidrug-resistant cell lines was compromised by increased polarity. Despite its high in vitro metabolic intrinsic clearance, 23r (AMG 900) showed acceptable pharmacokinetic properties and robust pharmacodynamic activity. Projecting from in vitro data to in vivo target coverage was not practical due to disjunctions between enzyme and cell data, complex and apparently contradictory indicators of binding kinetics, and unmeasurable free fraction in plasma. In contrast, it was straightforward to relate pharmacokinetics to pharmacodynamics and efficacy by following the time above a threshold concentration. On the basis of its oral route of administration, a selectivity profile that favors Aurora-driven pharmacology and its activity against multidrug-resistant cell lines, 23r was identified as a potential best-in-class Aurora kinase inhibitor. In phase 1 dose expansion studies with G-CSF support, 23r has shown promising single agent activity.