ASTM C'tee approves new standard

While the continuous quality verification concept is still quite new, it has the potential to become an important approach to assuring product quality in the pharmaceutical industry. With this in mind, ASTM International Committee E55 on Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Products has approved a new standard, E2537, Guide for Application of Continuous Quality Verification to Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E55.03 on General Pharmaceutical Standards.

"Continuous quality verification is an alternative process validation approach whereby the desired quality attributes are ensured through continuous assessment during manufacture," says Graham Wrigley, E55 member and senior manager, PGM Global Quality Operations Center, at drug giant Pfizer. "The adoption of this quality approach will move us from the documentation of a discreet process validation exercise to a science-based systematic approach. With the knowledge obtained during the product lifecycle, a number of benefits may be afforded, for example, real-time release and continuous quality improvement," he added.

The purpose of E2537 is to address the application of continuous quality verification to those manufacturing processes that employ modern quality management systems often supplemented with modern process analytical chemistry systems and controls.