ePrints

Quality of bevacizumab compounded for intravitreal administration

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jeremy Palmer, Professor Farhad Kamali

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Aim To compare the quality and stability of unlicensed, repackaged bevacizumab intended for intravitreal injection, as provided by five licensed compounding pharmacies in the United Kingdom, with bevacizumab in its original glass vial.Methods Repackaged bevacizumab was obtained from five UK suppliers. Samples were analyzed at two time points (day 1 and day 14). Microflow imaging was performed to evaluate subvisible particle size, particle density, and particle size distribution. Protein concentration, immunoglobulin G (IgG) content, and molecular weight were also determined.Results A significant difference in subvisible particle density was observed between bevacizumab batches from the five suppliers on day 1 (P<0.001). An increase in subvisible particle density was observed between day 1 and 14 for repackaged bevacizumab from all suppliers (all P<0.05), but not the reference compound. Protein concentration, IgG content, and molecular weight were comparable between batches from each supplier and the reference bevacizumab.Discussion The study results indicate that the quality of bevacizumab repackaged into prefilled plastic syringes is variable among the different compounding pharmacies in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, particle density may increase with storage in repackaged syringes. It is noteworthy that particle size distribution in both the repackaged and reference bevacizumab fell outside of the range specified by the United States Pharmacopeia for injectable ophthalmic solutions. These data highlight the need for further research into the use of unlicensed, repackaged bevacizumab intended for intravitreal injection.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Palmer JM, Amoaku WM, Kamali F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Eye

Year: 2013

Volume: 27

Issue: 9

Pages: 1090-1097

Print publication date: 01/09/2013

Online publication date: 21/06/2013

Acceptance date: 21/05/2013

ISSN (print): 0950-222X

ISSN (electronic): 1476-5454

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/eye.2013.139

DOI: 10.1038/eye.2013.139

Altmetrics

Share