The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which began in 2020, has affected all spheres of life, including clinical trial processes. Health authorities around the world issued recommendations aimed at minimising the risks of virus spreading and ensuring the safety of study participants. One of the types of clinical trials is bioequivalence studies of generic medicines. The aim of the study was to analyse current foreign approaches to planning and conduct of bioequivalence studies of medicines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to develop recommendations for planning of studies conducted in the Eurasian Economic Union and evaluation of their results. The paper discusses the main provisions of the current guidelines of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the planning, conduct and evaluation of clinical trials and, in particular, bioequivalence studies of generic medicines. The paper substantiates the necessity of detailing the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, published in an open letter to all market stakeholders and regulating the conduct of clinical trials of medicines in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The results of the analysis helped to develop recommendations aimed at ensuring the protection of clinical trial participants, as well as maintaining an acceptable level of quality and reliability of study results.

Stability testing gives necessary data on the effect of such factors as temperature, light, humidity, etc. on the medicinal product quality. The results of these studies help to select suitable primary and secondary packaging and to determine storage conditions and shelf life for the product. The aim of this study was to compare current requirements for stability testing of medicinal products in the Russian Federation and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The study covered stability testing of small-molecule medicines. The paper describes evolution of approaches to stability testing in the Russian Federation. It summarises the main differences in basic requirements for stability testing as stipulated in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation (Ph. Rus.) XIII edition, Ph. Rus. XIV edition, and EAEU regulations. The study demonstrated that the Russian Federation lacks regulations containing specific requirements for stability testing performed to support variations to marketing authorisation documentation. The Ph. Rus. XIV edition does not specify the extent of stability testing to be performed after switching to another manufacturer of the active ingredient or introduction into operation of a new manufacturing site where the medicinal product will be produced. At the same time, the EAEU regulatory documents contain requirements for stability testing for each type of the most frequent variations to marketing authorisation documentation. The study demonstrated the continuing relevance of bringing the Russian regulations on stability testing in line with those of the EAEU.

Abstract. Medicinal products of natural origin are widely used by virtue of their pharmacological efficacy and relative safety. Chemical composition of such medicines is usually complex, they may be represented by heteropolymers or mixtures containing peptides, polysaccharides, and other compounds which are endogenous and/or rapidly metabolised in a living organism. Conventional, chromatography-based approaches to evaluation of such medicines are often not applicable. Pharmacokinetics of medicinal products of natural origin may be studied by methods based on assessment of biological action and pharmacodynamic properties of such medicines, which involves determination of biological marker (biomarker) levels.

The aim of the study was to summarise the accumulated experimental data on the use of biomarkers in pharmacokinetics studies as illustrated by a few medicinal products of natural origin.

Material and methods. The authors studied fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus, as well as a complex of bioactive compounds and a glycopeptide—both isolated from gonads of green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis). In vitro/ex vivo experiments were used to establish correlation between the concentrations of the test mixtures and the activity/concentration of potential biomarkers. Experiments showing the biomarker concentration in plasma or serum (in vitro) and whole blood (ex vivo) before and after spiking with the studied products were performed in order to assess specificity, calibration (linear) range of the biomarker response, and its native concentration. The analytical procedures were based on the chromogenic (optical) anti-factor Xa activity (AXA) assay, and determination of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and lactate dehydrogenase activity by kinetic analysis with spectrophotometric detection of enzymatic reaction products.

Results. The analysis of the results of studies of a number of natural products (fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus; a complex of bioactive compounds isolated from gonads of green sea urchins S. droebachiensis; a glycopeptide isolated from internal organs of S. droebachiensis) demonstrated the feasibility of using biomarkers in pharmacokinetics studies of such products. This approach allowed for accurate calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters.

Conclusion. The discussed approach may be used for various biological models and is an effective means of studying compounds that are difficult or impossible to detect by conventional bioassays in pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence studies.

Abstract. Papaverine hydrochloride products are used as anticonvulsants in routine medical practice. Most of the approved product specification files include thin-layer chromatography for assessment of product-related impurities and UV spectrophotometry for determination of active pharmaceutical ingredients. An HPLC assay is not used for determination of papaverine hydrochloride in drug dosage forms.

The aim of the study was to develop an HPLC test method for determination of product-related impurities and for quantification of papaverine hydrochloride in solutions for injection, tablets, and rectal suppositories.

Materials and methods: samples of the following Russian-made papaverine products were used in the study: Papaverine, solution for injection, 20 mg/mL; Papaverine, rectal suppositories, 20 mg; Papaverine, tablets, 40 mg. The Agilent 1260 Infinity II DAD System was used for the HPLC assay, and the Agilent 8453Е UV-Vis System was used for recording UV spectra. The determination of product-related impurities and the assay of active ingredients were performed simultaneously by HPLC using a reversed-phase column Kromasil 100-5-C18, 250×4.6 mm, 5 μm, the gradient elution mode, and detection at        238 nm. Papaverine Hydrochloride USP RS, 99% purity, and Noscapine EP CRS were used as reference standards.

Results: the study demonstrated that determination of product-related impurities and assay of active ingredients in papaverine products can be performed simultaneously using HPLC.

Conclusions: the authors proposed an HPLC test method for determination of active ingredients in papaverine products, which is aligned with the “consistent standardisation” principle and can be recommended for inclusion into draft monographs for papaverine products.

Abstract. Identification of hellebore (Veratrum Lobelianum Bernh.) herbal substance, as well as hellebore-based herbal preparation and herbal medicinal product by the same group of biologically active substances using the same test method is in line with the so-called “consistent standardisation” principle.

The aim of the study was to develop a harmonised approach to identification of steroidal alkaloids in hellebore products (hellebore water, hellebore tincture) and hellebore herbal substance (hellebore rhizomes with roots).

Materials and methods: samples of hellebore water, hellebore tincture, and hellebore rhizomes with roots were analysed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) using an HPTLC plate.

Results: the authors developed a harmonised identification procedure for products made from hellebore rhizomes with roots (herbal substance, herbal preparation, and herbal medicinal product) based on HPTLC detection of steroidal alkaloids. The results of the study will be used to prepare amendments to the Identification part of monograph FS.2.5.0104.18 “Hellebore rhizomes with roots”. The developed test procedure is proposed for inclusion into draft monographs “Hellebore rhizomes with roots, tincture” and “Hellebore rhizomes with roots, tincture, solution for external use”.

Conclusions: the developed test procedure can be used as an identification test for a range of products from the hellebore herbal substance to hellebore-based herbal medicinal products, which is based on the detection of the same group of biologically active substances.

Near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) is a new pharmacopoeial method. It is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for quality control of medicinal products at various production stages (control of raw materials and finished products), and for detection of substandard and counterfeit drugs.

The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using NIRS as an identification test for active ingredients during pre-marketing quality control of medicinal products.

Materials and methods: 327 drugs samples represented as solid and semisolid dosage forms were tested by NIRS following their examination by well-established pharmacopoeial Identification methods during pre-marketing laboratory evaluation. The NIR spectra of the test samples were compared with the spectral library classification models.

Results: NIRS confirmed the identity of 3.1% of the tested medicinal products. It was demonstrated that library classification models could be used for identification of only those medicines that were produced by a specific manufacturer, i.e. for confirmation of medicine identity.

Conclusions: the NIRS method is unpractical as an Identification test for active ingredients in medicinal products during the pre-marketing laboratory evaluation stage. The main limitations of NIRS are lack of complete sets of library classification models for all medicinal products available in the market and non-reproducibility of spectral library data obtained with a different instrument.

The need for development of a clinical trial guidance for medicines for bronchial asthma is brought about by the improvement of requirements for research programmmes for new medicines. The aim of the study was to develop a methodological approach to conducting clinical trials of bronchial asthma medicines in Russia in line with the existing international requirements. The authors analysed regulatory documentation on the development of medicines for treatment of bronchial asthma in adults taking into account the current clinical guidelines, and specific aspects of developing medicines for treatment of bronchial asthma in children. The paper also analyses some clinical research aspects related to the development of immunotherapy. The analysis of up-to-date Russian and international clinical guidelines for bronchial asthma treatment, which are focused on bronchial asthma managementusing basic therapy, revealed the need to use revised disease concepts and new criteria to assess the efficacy of asthma medicines. The authors formulated consistent approaches to planning a clinical development programme for medicines for bronchial asthma, and suggested methodology for conducting clinical research based on recommendations of the European Medicines Agency.