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Q5C – Quality of Biotechnological Products: Stability Testing of Biotechnological/Biological Products

Guideline number: Q5C
Status: Implementation (Step 5)
Adopted (Step 4): 30 November 1995

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in November 1995. This document augments the stability Guideline (Q1A) and deals with the particular aspects of stability test procedures needed to take account of the special characteristics of products in which the active components are typically proteins and/or polypeptides.

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in July 1997. This document covers the preclinical safety testing requirements for biotechnological products. It addresses the use of animal models of disease, determination of when genotoxicity assays and carcinogenicity studies should be performed, and the impact of antibody formation on duration of toxicology studies.

An addendum was proposed to provide clarification on S6 and an update of the following topics discussed in the original ICH S6 Guideline: species selection, study design, immunogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity and assessment of carcinogenic potential. The Harmonised addendum provides further complementary guidance to the S6 Guideline and helps to define the current recommendations and reduce the likelihood that substantial differences will exist among regions.

The addendum reached Step 4 of the harmonisation process in June 2011 and was integrated as part II in the core Guideline that was then renamed S6(R1).

Guideline

Annexes

Annexes

Guideline implementation

ANMAT, Argentina

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In the process of implementation;
ANVISA, Brazil

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Implemented; Date: 4 January 2021; Reference: RDC 412/2020
COFEPRIS, Mexico

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Implemented; Date: 1 September 2015; Reference: NOM-073-SSA1-2015 Stability Testing of New Drug Substances and Products; Pharmacopeia of the United Mexican States 13.0.
EC, Europe

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Implemented; Date: 1 July 1996; Reference: CPMP/ICH/138/95
EDA, Egypt

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Implemented; Date: 31 December 2013; Reference: Regulatory guide for mechanisms, procedures and rules of implementing the decree of Egyptian Drug Authority No.343 of 2021
FDA, United States

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Implemented; Date: 1 July 1996; Reference: Vol. 61, p. 36466
HSA, Singapore

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Implemented; Date: 1 January 2008; Reference: These guidelines are cross-referred in M4Q and applied in the routine evaluation. See regulatory guidance.
Health Canada, Canada

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Implemented; Date: 5 January 2001; Reference: Catalogue No. H42-2/67-20-2000E
JFDA, Jordan

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Implemented; Date: 2 January 2016;
MFDS, Republic of Korea

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Implemented; Date: 30 November 2015; Reference: Guidelines on Stability Testing of Biological Product [Guideline-0328-01]
MHLW/PMDA, Japan

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Implemented; Date: 1 January 1998; Reference: PMSB/ELD Notification No. 6
MHRA, UK

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Implemented; Date: 2 December 1995;
NAFDAC, Nigeria

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Not yet implemented;
NMPA, China

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Implemented; Date: 21 July 2020; Reference: NMPA, China Announcement No. 7 (2020)
SAHPRA, South Africa

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In the process of implementation;
SFDA, Saudi Arabia

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Implemented; Date: 3 February 2011;
Swissmedic, Switzerland

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Implemented; Date: 30 November 1995; Reference: ICH Guidelines apply in Switzerland automatically upon reaching Step 4: Swissmedic Journal 05/2006, p. 504
TFDA, Chinese Taipei

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Implemented; Date: 11 December 2003; Reference: Guideline on Stability Testing of Drug Substances and Products
TITCK, Türkiye

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Implemented; Date: 11 December 2021; Reference: Regulation on the Marketing Authorization of Medicinal Products for Human Use and Guidelines on the Development and Registration of Biosimilar Medicinal Products

Q+A

Q+A Status: Implementation (Step 5)