Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

EDQM: Five Pharmacopoeia monographs on Nitrosamine contamination in Sartans revised and implemented immediately

On 23 February 2021, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) announced that five monographs on sartans have been revised. They will be effective immediately as of 1 April 2021. 

This concerns the following sartans with a tetrazole ring: 

  • Valsartan (2423) 
  • Losartan potassium (2232) 
  • Irbesartan 
  • Candesartan cilexetil (2573) 
  • Olmesartan medoxomil (2600) 

The monographs are thus consistent with the latest regulatory recommendations issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on 13 November 2020 (see EMA nitrosamine website). Therefore, they were not published in the Pharmeuropa for public consultation. In addition, the monographs were implemented in a rapid revision process to best align the effective date with regulatory decisions.  

The changes concern a new wording of the section "Production" and the deletion of the section on N-nitrosamine testing.  

The monographs can be found in Supplements 10.4 and 10.5 in the download version. The PDF is available on the EDQM website. In the print version, you will find the monographs starting in Supplement 10.6.  

Two other monographs have also been revised. They now contain recommendations for manufacturers on the handling and evaluation of nitrosamine impurities in active substances and medicinal products for human use:  

  • Substances for pharmaceutical use (2034)   
  • Pharmaceutical preparations (2619)  

These monographs will be published in Pharmeuropa 33.2 (April to June 2021). 


Sources:

EDQM: European Pharmacopoeia: Rapid implementation of the revised sartan monographs on 1 April 2021 

EDQM: Control of N-nitrosamine impurities in sartans: revision and rapid implementation of five Ph. Eur. monographs 

Meet the GMP Compliance Adviser

The GMP Compliance Adviser is the world's largest knowledge portal for quality management in the pharma business. 

The demo access is non-binding and ends automatically.

Test it now for free

You may also be interested in the following articles:

How is a QRM process initiated?

How is a QRM process initiated?

You can view the answer here:
Read more
FDA: Updated Pre-RFD Guidance for Combination Products

FDA: Updated Pre-RFD Guidance for Combination Products

The U.S. FDA has released an updated final guidance on preparing a Pre-Request for Designation (Pre-RFD), replacing the previous 2018 version. The revised document provides new recommendations for interacting with the Office of Combination Products (OCP) and clarifies expectations for Pre-RFD submissions.
Read more
EDQM: 9 Virtual Training Modules on Ph. Eur. and CEPs

EDQM: 9 Virtual Training Modules on Ph. Eur. and CEPs

The EDQM has introduced a modular training programme covering chemically defined active substances and medicinal products. It will take place between 1 and 12 December 2025.
Read more
 Data Integrity and Data Governance

Data Integrity and Data Governance

Data integrity is a key element in the pharmaceutical quality assurance system which has gained importance in recent years, especially from the viewpoint of the authorities. In GxP-regulated companies, managers are responsible for identifying and minimising risks to data integrity (“data governance”).

Read more
EMA Clarifies “Novel or Complex Manufacturing Process” Definition

EMA Clarifies “Novel or Complex Manufacturing Process” Definition

In its Quality of Medicines Q&A – Part 1, the EMA has clarified how “novel or complex manufacturing processes” should be interpreted for variation categories Q.II.b.1 (new/replacement finished product manufacturing site) and Q.II.b.4 (change in batch size).
Read more
EU: Environment Committee Comments on EU Regulation Regarding Critical Medicines

EU: Environment Committee Comments on EU Regulation Regarding Critical Medicines

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has issued its opinion on the proposed EU Regulation to strengthen the availability of critical medicines. Key recommendations include fast-track permitting, simplified environmental assessments, and support for strategic manufacturing projects to boost EU production capacity.
Read more
Previous
Next