Spanish researchers present a new method for the estimation of quality range (QR) bounds based on the variance components to account for both between-lots and within-lots variability; variance components are computed by the maximum likelihood method using a linear random model [1]. The authors have called this method QRML to differentiate it from the currently used procedure based on one sample per batch. For this, the molecular weight (Mw) and dimer content (expressed as percentage) were used as critical quality attributes (CQAs). Real data from seven batches of a commercial bevacizumab drug product were used.
To apply the QRML approach, k must be equal to 3 to assure that all observations will be inside the QR limits with a high probability. Overall, the bevacizumab mean Mw was 148.79 kDa; within-batch standard deviation ranges from 0.294 to 2.07 (coefficient of variation from 0.26% to 1.38%). Overall bevacizumab mean dimer content was 1.539%, and the within-batch standard deviation ranged from 0.034% to 0.198% (coefficient of variation from 2.30% to 12.7%).
For both CQAs, the null hypothesis H0:σ_B^2=0 was accepted because the 95% confidence intervals include the zero value. Therefore, at least taking the precision of the analytical methods into account, there are no differences between batches and the observed variability is due to within-batch factors. These are mainly analytical method uncertainty and sampling variability. To demonstrate that the QRML method provides more reliable results than those given by the one in use to date (QR approach is based on one sample per batch) the expected distribution of the latter using a stratified bootstrap sampling (one sample per batch; 2,000 simulations) from the experimental data were computed. The results show clearly that the QR bounds are negatively correlated. The importance of within-batch variability (σB) can be easily analyzed if QRML approach is expressed as a function of the intra-class correlation coefficient (ρ). For example, σB = 2.50 and ρ = 0.1 the QR bounds obtained were 76.3–1123., whereas for ρ = 0.5, the QR bounds were narrower (89.4, 110.6).
The relevance of the uncertainty of the analytical method can be anticipated from a proper validation procedure. Uncertainty of the Mw determination already published is of the same order of magnitude as the value estimated for σ. However, some discrepancy in the determination of dimer content were found. In this case, the values obtained were larger than expected from the validation of the analytical method. This is probably because aggregation can take place after filling vials, leading to a larger sample-to-sample variability. Therefore, interpretation of the uncertainty of the analytical model leads us to the biosimilarity design.
In conclusion, this approach facilitates calculation of more precise QR values through the maximum likelihood method, as well as for setting a priori values for QR.
Conflict of interest
The authors of the research paper [1] declared that there was no conflict of interest.
Abstracted by Alexis Manuel Oliva Martín, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain.
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Reference
1. Oliva A, Llabrés M. New quality-range-setting method based on between- and within-batch variability for biosimilarity assessment. Pharmaceuticals 2021;14(6):527.
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