Development, Optimization and Validation of a Selective Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Estimation of Glecaprevir and Pibrentasvir and Its Degradation Products Using Quality by Design Approach

Abstract

The present work focused on QbD driven approach for the development, optimization of stability indicating method for glecaprevir and pibrentasvir in bulk drug and its degradation products. The chromatographic separation was performed on Hypersil C₈ (150 mm × 4.6, 5 μ) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min at 260 nm. The mobile phase employed was sodium phosphate monobasic and monohydric buffer and acetonitrile (65:35) having pH of 4.2 at 30 °C of column temperature. The degradation studies were carried out for glecaprevir and pibrentasvir under the stress condition hydrolysis (acid, base and neutral), oxidation, photolytic and thermal as per ICH guidelines. In alkali degradation chromatogram, more number of degradant peaks was appeared along with the risk factor, selectivity of the method. The selectivity of the method was established by resolving the resolution of degradant peaks and retention time of drugs by the application of design of experiment. The interaction effect of factors of pH mobile phase, column temperature and % mobile phase were studied through response surface method (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). The optimized selective method was established for the detection of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir along with degradant peaks by optimized conditions were proposed by the model. Then the optimized method was validated for the parameters like linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness as per ICH guidelines.