QualiMetrix

QualiMetrix provides integrated analytical development services for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

The company offers support throughout device development, product registration and post-marketing stages, while its analytical offerings include quality control (QC) testing and research and development (R&D) studies. The company’s studies are performed using state-of-the-art instrumentation that is consistently updated.

QualiMetrix’s contract laboratory meets the stringent regulatory requirements of the healthcare industry, performing consistently to good manufacturing practice (GMP) and good laboratory practice (GLP) standards.

QualiMetrix is a third-party contract laboratory that provides a wide range of integrated analytical services to the medical device industry.

Qualimetrix has an active good manufacturing practice (GMP) site that is fully dedicated to laboratory activities.

Qualimetrix supports a wide range of studies by optimising the device development and manufacturing processes.

QualiMetrix provides high-quality regulatory consultations, scientific advice relating to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or national agencies, and letter of deficiencies responses.

The firm develops and validates methods using an array of analytical methods from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

A selection of risk assessments, method development, validation and sample analysis with various techniques is available.

Qualimetrix's routine testing and release of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished products meet good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards.

All of the company's studies are performed using state-of-the-art instrumentation that is consistently updated.

In vitro biocompatibility studies are performed with state-of-the-art equipment such as cell imaging multi-mode readers.

Franz cell system is employed for in vitro permeation and release studies. It is equipped with an automated sampling and collection system.

Chemical characterisation services for medical device development

Chemical characterisation comprises a variety of analytical techniques to identify and quantify materials with the potential to migrate from the product contact material into the solution of interest.

The purpose of this testing is to determine a baseline to the extractable amount of chemical compounds present in and on a medical device and utilise extraction conditions similar to those employed during the biocompatibility assessment of similar devices.

Through state-of-the-art equipment and scientific expertise, QualiMetrix provides analytical services regarding:

• Degradation products
• Leachables and extractables
• Ethylene oxide residuals

Structure elucidation of unknowns and toxicological risk assessment are also included in the company’s service portfolio. QualiMetrix provides structural elucidation of unknown compounds using accurate mass measurements through high-resolution mass analysers (HRMS) that leads to the highest confidence of the proposed structure.

The toxicological evaluation is performed by combining in-silico methodologies such as DEREK and SARAH NEXUS software, literature search and expert assessment. In the case of equivocal or doubtful results in terms of a compound’s mutagenic potential, the study is augmented by bacterial reverse mutation tests.

Leachables and extractables studies for packaging and manufacturing materials

Polymeric and elastomeric materials are commonly encountered during the manufacturing process of medical products and components of the packaging / container closure system.

During the product’s expected shelf-life and use, the constant contact and stressing may bring about a change in the composition of the product stored through interactions with its packaging.

Product packaging interaction studies focus on establishing this change in the product composition brought about by the interplay of packaging and stored content through means of molecular exchange. This exchange involves the solubilisation of compounds within the polymeric or metal matrix and their subsequent migration into the bulk of the stored product.

Elemental impurities according to the ICH Q3D guideline

Following the ICH Q3D Guideline related to the control of elemental impurities,

QualiMetrix can provide a complete risk assessment, method development, validation and sample analysis for the determination of elemental impurities in final products and APIs by ICP-MS.

Biological evaluation of medical devices

The biological evaluation of any medical device is performed as a part of the biological risk assessment process. A necessary biological evaluation plan (BEP) must be established and a series of properly justified and documented steps should be performed in order to evaluate the data that could be generated from any available source.

At the end of this thoroughly planned investigation, appropriate biocompatibility tests are selected and performed, and all results and data are documented in the biological evaluation report (BER).

The evaluation of the biocompatibility should be appropriate to the intended use of the component material of the finished product. In its well-equipped testing facilities, the company offers an extensive range of biocompatibility studies under GLP environment that are framed by a biological risk assessment under 10993-1. QualiMetrix offers in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as alternative non-animal in vitro screening studies.

Filter validation and in-vitro release testing and permeation studies

In accordance with the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) technical report No 26/2008, QualiMetrix undertakes filterability, compatibility and filter extractables tests, as well as bacterial viability and challenge tests as part of the filter validation activity.

QualiMetrix performs in-vitro release (IVR) testing for semisolid preparations according to the provisions of USP General Chapter <1724> Semisolid Drug Products Performance Tests by using the Franz diffusion cell, as well as in-vitro permeation (IVP) studies with human / animal skin by following robust and discriminating analytical methodologies.

Reverse engineering studies for reference products

QualiMetrix’s reverse engineering / deformulation studies determine the composition of a reference product with the aim to facilitate the process of developing an essentially similar product.

Reliable and accurate determination of excipients is performed and a quantitative product composition is provided.

Analytical and medical device development services

QualiMetrix supports the development and optimization of medical device composition, manufacturing processes and specifications.

The company provides an integrated package of development and analytical method validation.

It offers a wide range of analytical instrumentation, which covers various compendial and non-compendial testing, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), headspace gas chromatography  (GC), dissolution apparatus I-IV, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) triple quadrupole, ion trap-orbitrap and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

About QualiMetrix

QualiMetrix is a customer-driven laboratory that employs the Six Sigma philosophy to design and implement optimised processes with the aim of transforming customer inputs and requirements into customer value.

The company provides high-quality reports, regulatory consultations, data gap analysis, scientific advice relating to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), national competent authorities or Notified Bodies (NB).

The first and probably the most critical factor for a successful project is its proper definition in terms of both customer and technical requirements. To this end, a comprehensive study request form is provided to the customer with the following objectives:

• The definition of the type and scope of the study
• The provision of critical product information
• The determination of the most suitable, expedient and cost-effective approach