D-501

Stability Program for Finished Products

Section D — Laboratory Operations and Specifications Revision 9 8 pages

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1.0 Purpose 
 
 The purpose of this SOP is to define the stability program requirements, including but not
 limited to the process for determining which batches are to be placed on stability, bracketing,
 matrixing, test selection, sample storage conditions, generation of stability protocols and
 reports, and general program organization. Stability testing is to provide evidence on how the
 quality and/or safety of a product vary with time under the influence of a variety of
 environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and light. 
 
 2.0 Scope 
 
 This procedure applies to all finished products manufactured at Ion Labs.
 
 3.0 Responsibility 
 
 3.1 It is the responsibility of DC to maintain a stability batch list which includes tracking
 formulation changes and bottling configurations. 
 
 3.2 Quality is responsible for generating customer quality agreements or
 reviewing/approving customer supplied agreements. 
 
 3.3. It is the responsibility of QC Laboratory Personnel to maintain official copies of all
 stability program forms, and product files, determine when a stability protocol is
 required, select bracketing and matrixing options, test selection, and to generate
 stability protocols in the stability program software. The QC Laboratory is also
 responsible for performing stability testing and documenting the results, generating
 final reports (if applicable) upon the completion of stability testing for a batch, and
 maintaining a supported expiration interval log. 
 
 3.4 R&D is responsible for initiating accelerated stability studies to determine formula
 stability metrics. QC Lab personnel may govern the stability study and ensure samples
 are pulled and submitted to the laboratory for testing. 
 
 4.0 Definitions 
 
 4.1 Established Expiration Interval — An expiration interval that Ion Labs has confirmed
 is supported by the execution of approved stability protocols for three batches.
 
 
 

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 4.2 Expiration/Best By Date — The date placed on a product container that indicates the
 time point prior to which a batch of product should remain within the established
 specifications if the product is stored under the conditions defined on the packaging.
 
 4.3 Existing Product — Any product previously manufactured at Ion Labs Inc. with a
 current formula, manufacturing process, and container closure system.
 
 44 Expiration Interval — The time period during which a product should remain within
 the established specifications when stored under the conditions defined on the
 
 packaging. 
 4.5 New Product — Any product not previously manufactured at Ion Labs, Inc.
 
 4.6 Product Profile — A file that contains the product formulation, finished product testing,
 
 stability testing and exemptions. 
 4.7 Test Cycle — A specified number of months before the best-by-date during which
 
 stability testing will be performed to ensure continued compliance with established
 specifications. 
 
 4.3 Test Interval - A specified number of months between stability assessments. A Test
 Interval is a predetermined fraction of the Test Cycle. 
 
 4.9 Bracketing — The design of a stability study such that only samples on the extremes of
 certain design factors (e.g., strength, fill, flavoring, etc.) are tested at all time points as
 in a full design. The design assumes that the stability of any intermediate levels is
 represented by the stability of the extremes tested. 
 
 4.10 Matrixing - The design of a stability schedule such that a subset of the total number of
 possible tests for all factor combinations would be tested at a specified time point. At a
 subsequent time point, another subset of tests for all factor combinations would be
 tested. The design assumes that the stability of each subset of analytes tested represents
 the stability of all analytes at a given time point. 
 
 4.11 Micro Control Solution Stability Software — Software utilized by QC Laboratory
 Personnel to create and maintain stability protocols, stability testing data, and stability
 protocol trend cards. 
 
 4.12 NLT — Not Less Than 
 
 4.13 FPTT — Finished Product Test Ticket 
 
 4.14 OOS — Out of Specification 
 
 4.15 OOT — Out of Trend 
 
 4.16 BPR — Batch Production Record 
 
 4.17 DC — Document Control 
 
 
 

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 4.18 QA- Quality Assurance 
 
 4.19 QC - Quality Control 
 
 5.0 References 
 
 DL C-201, SOP, Deviation and Investigation Procedure 
 
 5.2 C-502, SOP, Record Storage, Retention, and Destruction 
 
 5.3 D-105, SOP, Out of Specification and Out of Trend Investigation 
 
 5.4 D-404, SOP, Finished Product Reserve Samples 
 
 5.5 D-821, SOP, Dickson Data Logger and Dickson Secure 
 
 5.6 E-702, SOP, Finished Product Sampling Procedure 
 
 a7 F-505, SOP, Environmental Monitoring Program 
 
 5.8 21CFR111, Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging,
 Labeling, or Holding Operations or Dietary Supplements 
 
 6.0 Stability Guidelines 
 
 6.1 The stability test cycle at minimum must reflect the best-by-date or expiration date on
 
 the package. Stability testing can be extended to validate stability for periods exceeding
 the best-by-date or expiration date. 
 
 6.2 Stability testing required, stability exemptions, along with any matrixing or bracketing
 approach, will be pre-defined and justified in the product profile.
 6.3 For a single formulation, all bottling configurations will be stability tested using at least
 
 one batch. Bracketing may be used if defined and justified in product profile.
 
 6.3.1 If a formula is bottled with and without desiccant, preservative, or other
 stabilizer, each packaging combination requires full stability.
 
 6.4 For each unique product formulation identified by the formula number matrixed with
 bottling configuration, the first three batches manufactured are subject to stability
 testing. 
 
 6.4.1 Each time a formula is modified, stability restarts per DC tracking. The
 modified formula will be bracketed with previously released modified
 formulations. 
 
 6.4.2 Coated and uncoated tablets with the same composition require separate stability
 studies and bracketing is not permitted. 
 
 
 

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 6.4.3 Vegetable and gelatin capsules with the same fill composition require separate
 stability studies. 
 
 6.5 Formulas, formula changes, bottling configurations matrixed with eligible stability
 batches are tracked using an Excel spreadsheet which is maintained by DC.
 
 6.6 Once the first three lots of any formulation has successfully met all acceptance criteria
 
 as defined in the stability protocol, one lot per year will then be placed into the stability
 program. 
 
 6.7 All dietary supplements bulk-shipped or labeled with a manufacture date are not subject
 to stability testing. 
 
 6.7.1 The customer can request stability testing be performed on bulk purchased
 product with a quality agreement in place providing the customer submits
 sufficient packaged finished product samples in the appropriate packaging
 configuration to the lon Labs QC Laboratory for retains and testing.
 
 6.8 Products made for sample purposes only and not intended for sale or distribution and
 Pilot batches may be used for stability purposes if the batches meet these criteria:
 
 6.8.1 The batch contains all ingredients that the finished product will contain.
 
 6.8.2 The batch is packaged in similar closure systems 
 
 6.9 For any customer modification to the default stability program, a quality agreement will
 be prepared by QA defining the responsibilities of Ion Labs, Inc. 
 
 6.10 New stability program structures and guidelines can be retroactively applied to active
 protocols providing appropriate justification is sighted in each affected protocol.
 
 
 

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 7.0 Minimum Time Interval Guidelines 
 
 The below table defines proposed testing intervals for stability evaluation, room temperature
 studies only. Other temperature/ humidity studies may be performed using different pull
 schedules. The product profile will be the official document that defines testing intervals but
 
 may reference this table when setting up the stability study. 
 
 Product Type First year Second Year After 2" Year 
 
 pharenaceuti . b al E 3 v , e r 6, y 9 3 , m 1 o 2 n m t o h n s, t h i s .e . | Eve 1 r 8 y , 6 2 4 m o m n o t n h t s h , s i ce. Annually
 
 Di ; e tary Supplement Eve 6 r , y 1 6 2 m m o o n n t t h i s, s i.e. | Eve 1 r 8 y , 6 2 4 m o m n o t n h t s h , s ie. Annually
 
 Cosmeti ‘ c Ever 6, y 1 6 2 m m o o n n t t h h s s , i.e. | Eve 1 r 8 y , 6 2 4 m o m n o t n h t s h , s ice. eemnually
 
 Food Ever 6, y 1 6 2 m m o o n n t t h h s s , ic. | Eve 1 r 8 y , 2 6 4 m o m n o t n h t s h , s ie. Annually
 
 L Pet Ever 6, y 1 6 2 m m o o n n t t h h s s , i.e. | Eve 1 r 8 y , 2 6 4 m o m n o t n h t s h , s ice. Annually |
 
 8.0 Generating a Stability Protocol 
 
 8.1 Stability protocols will be created using the Micro Control Stability software.
 
 8.1.1 Enter all product information as applicable for each stability study.
 
 8.1.2 Enter all testing required and each time point that product will be pulled for
 stability evaluation. 
 
 8.1.3 Once the protocol has been generated, a copy will be printed, reviewed for
 accuracy against the product profile, and approved electronically by QC
 Laboratory Management. 
 
 9.0 Generating a Stability Trend Card 
 
 9.1.1 At each time point, all results will be entered into the stability software.
 
 9.1.2 The data will be entered, reviewed, and approved inside of the stability software
 using electronic signature. The person entering the data cannot approve their
 own entries. A second person will review and approve data entries.
 
 9.1.2.1 Alternatively, manual signatures can be used. 
 
 
 

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 10.0 Maintaining Stability Testing 
 
 10.1 Any updates made to a product profile may impact a current stability study. An
 evaluation should occur at time of product profile update to assess any possible impacts
 to the current stability studies. 
 
 10.2 Ifa product profile change is made that impacts the acceptable ranges of any stability
 testing, an assessment of the current stability studies should occur to determine
 applicability to those studies. 
 
 10.3 A newer method can replace an older method with QC Laboratory Management
 approval in the following circumstances: 
 
 10.3.1 The new method is equal or superior to the original method.
 
 10.3.2 An outsourced method has been validated in-house. 
 
 10.3.3 Any method change should be reflected on a revised product profile.
 
 10.4 A stability test that has a validated in-house method can be outsourced to a qualified
 third party lab with QC Laboratory Management approval. Reference SOP D-202 for
 Outsource Testing Procedure. 
 
 10.5 The Stability Program Lead or designee will collect all stability data and enter it into
 the Micro Control Solutions Stability Software. 
 
 10.6 Once all testing intervals in the stability protocol are complete, the Stability Program
 Lead will print off the final trend card from the Micro Control Stability software and
 circulate the completed study for final review. 
 
 11.0 Stability Protocol and Sample Handling 
 
 11.1 At the beginning of each month the Stability Program Lead or designee will identify all
 the active stability protocols for that month. The “pull” list should be printed each
 month and stored in a binder so that each stability pull can be recalled if necessary. All
 pulled samples should be verified against pull list each month prior to laboratory
 submission. 
 
 11.2 The stability samples will be identified and collected. The stability samples should be
 labeled with correct testing for the sample that was pulled and delivered to the QC
 
 Laboratory. 
 
 11.3 Testing must be completed within the following month of the stability pull. Testing
 periods can be extended with justification and QC Laboratory Management for up to 30
 additional days. If testing is not completed within this timeframe then a deviation will
 be required to justify the late testing. The exception would be if a sample is under
 investigation. The investigative documentation will then govern the testing timeframe
 of the sample. 
 
 
 

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 11.4 At the end of each month, the pull schedule will be compared to completed studies for
 that month to ensure all testing was completed. If all testing has not been completed,
 QC Laboratory Management will be notified immediately for reconciliation.
 
 11.5 If an out of specification test result is obtained for any stability test, QC Laboratory
 
 Management will be notified immediately. 
 
 11.5.1 Any necessary OOS investigations will be documented in accordance with SOP
 D-105 Out-of-Specification Test Results Investigation. 
 11.6 The Stability Protocol, Stability Trend Cards, Out-of-Specification Reports, Deviations,
 
 Addendums, and all raw data that comprise the stability protocol will be maintained in
 the protocol binder by the QC Laboratory. 
 
 11.7 The protocol will remain open and will be maintained by the QC Laboratory until all
 stability testing intervals are complete. 
 
 12.0 Stability Sample Storage 
 
 12.1 The temperature and humidity conditions in the Stability Retain Room will be
 monitored and tracked with calibrated instruments as per F-505, Environmental
 Monitoring Program. 
 
 12.1.1 The temperature and humidity conditions will be at ambient conditions,
 approximately 15° - 30°C and 20 - 75% RH. 
 
 12.1.2 The temperature and relative humidity conditions are tracked using Dickson
 Data Loggers. Data is downloaded and processed periodically via protocol and
 according to D-821, Dickson Data Logger and Dicksonware Secure.
 
 12.1.3 If the temperature or humidity data demonstrates that the conditions have gone
 outside of the specified range, an investigation may be conducted and
 documented as per SOP C-201 Deviation and Investigation Procedure.
 
 12.1.3.1 The investigation will include, but not be limited to, an assessment of
 the impact on the ongoing stability studies and corrective actions.
 
 12.2 An electronic log will be used to document product retained for stability testing. The
 log will reference the following: Batch Number, Product Name/Description, Container
 Closure System, and Logged By/Date. This log is maintained by DC. 
 
 
 

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 13.0 Revision History 

| Rev | Date | Description of Changes | CCR # | By |
|-----|----------|------------------------|-------|----|
| 0 | 05/06/10 | New | - | - |
| 1 | 02/11/11 | Details added discussing nutritional supplements and ambient room temperature | - | - |
| 2 | 08/08/11 | Corrected typographical error in section reference in step 5.4.1 10/05/12 Revised entire program for compliance with current industry practices and regulatory expectations Changed quantitative determination criteria for labile compounds, added quantitative determination criteria for non- labile materials, changed exemption source to product profile, removed bracketing, redefined stability protocol inclusion 10/09/13 criteria, removed tracking log, replaced with finished product 13-822 B. Johns trend cards, reduced responsibilities of Sales down to identifying exceptions to stability program, added criteria for stable analytes, use of stability protocols from T=0 to be tracked for entire stability testing cycle. Restructured SOP. Added bracketing and matrixing. Redefined test cycle criteria. Master stability list managed by DC. Use of 04/23/14 exemptions in stability protocol to define bracketing, matrixing 14-0381 B. Johns and exclusions. Expanded Protocol Type 1 and Protocol Type 2 definitions 07/21/14 Added inventory requirements. Added form D-501-F2. 14-0593 S. Millar Reworded for improved clarity. Expanded testing and 01/05/16 specification options for international products. Adjusted stability criteria. Increased specification to 100% and added 16-0018 N. Zhang stability by container specification. 06/20/16 Title Change. Addition of cosmetic criteria. Removed F-501-F2 and transferred log requirements to be completed electronically. 16-0421 B. Johns Title Change. Updated SOP to be more in line with current lab 10/18/19 practices. Merged with SOP D-501.0 to cover all finished 19-0763 J. Sassman products manufactured at Ion Labs. Added stability software. | - | - |