Performance Qualification of Automatic System for Antineoplastic Preparation

Abstract

The preparation of antiblastic and parental drugs should be carried out by ensuring an aseptic condition and minimizing exposure to toxic drugs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality and qualification of these features of an automated dispensing system, called PHARMODUCT®, built by Bioduct s.r.l, part of the Dedalus group. Three antiblastic drugs (cyclophosphamide (powder), 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel) were used and three preparation and dispensing sessions were carried out for each drug, using PHARMODUCT®. Some of the infusion bags, prepared for each type of antiblastic, were sent to an external laboratory to perform the quantitative dosage analysis and compare it with the quantitative concentration, set on the automatic dispensing equipment, which was found to meet the acceptance criteria of 10%. In addition, to assess the safety of the process for operator exposure to toxic drugs, the differential pressure value between the main chamber and the clean room was measured to be ˂0 Pa, with an hourly leakage rate of ˂2.5 × 10−3 h−1. Media fill tests showed no microbiological growth after a 14-day incubation period. The PHARMODUCT® system meets the requirements of safety and repeatability for the dispensation of parenteral antiblastic drugs.

Keywords

• antineoplastic drugs
• automated compounding
• aseptic processing
• robotics
• dispensing module