Nitrosamine impurities are a group of organic compounds that contain the nitroso functional group (-NO).

Nitrosamines can form during the manufacturing process of certain drugs, especially those that contain secondary amines, through a chemical reaction between the amine and nitrite ions.

It is important to know about nitrosamine impurities in the pharmaceutical industry because these impurities can pose a serious risk to patient safety.

Nitrosamines are classified as genotoxic and carcinogenic substances, meaning they can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Therefore, regulatory agencies such as the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have set strict limits on the amount of nitrosamine impurities that are allowed in pharmaceutical products.

In recent years, there have been several high-profile recalls of drugs due to the presence of nitrosamine impurities, leading to a heightened awareness of this issue in the industry.

As a result, pharmaceutical companies are now required to conduct extensive testing and risk assessments to detect and control nitrosamine impurities in their products, and to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines.

New Nitrosamine Impurities :

The acceptable intake limits (AI) for common nitrosamine impurities, such as NDMA, NDEA, NMBA, NDIPA, NIPEA, and NDBA, are used to control their presence in medicines.

However, recent findings of nitrosamine drug substance-related impurities (NDSRI) in various drugs have prompted an assessment of NDSRIs in all secondary amine compounds.

Industry challenges :

Synthesis of impurities, not knowing the AI limits, analytical challenges, and different limits for different markets are all challenges faced in controlling these nitrosamine impurities.

Due to the frequent appearance of new nitrosamine impurities and changes in toxicological limits, it is difficult for the pharmaceutical industry to track such changes.

A Solution of Nitrosamine Exchange:

It is a platform moderated by USP to get an up to date information on nitrosamine. The website's mission is to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders in Pharmaceutical industries to address the challenges posed by nitrosamine contamination.

The website features a variety of resources, including analytical hub(where analytical methods are readily available), news updates, scientific articles, regulatory guidance, and best practices for nitrosamine control.

It also includes a discussion forum where users can ask questions, share experiences, and seek advice from other industry professional making it a valuable resource for industry professionals, researchers, regulators, and other stakeholders who are interested in the topic.
 
Free access of nitrosamine exchange at
https://lnkd.in/g_aduGhV

Author: Mr.Murugan Saravanan