Comprehensive impurity profiling and stability assessment of indacaterol maleate integrating LC–MS and in silico genotoxicity


Aydın Ç., Yazar Y., Yılmaz H., Bellur Atici E., ÖZKAN S. A.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, cilt.278, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 278
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jpba.2026.117554
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Genotoxic impurities, Impurity profiling, Indacaterol maleate, LC–QTOF–MS, RP-HPLC-UV, Stability-indicating methods
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study describes the development and validation of stability-indicating analytical methods for indacaterol maleate, an ultra-long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist used in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RP-HPLC-UV methods were established for quantifying indacaterol and its related substances, while LC–QDa–MS and high-resolution LC–QTOF–MS were employed for impurity identification and structural elucidation. All methods were developed and validated in accordance with ICH guidelines to support comprehensive assessment of process-related impurities and degradation behavior. Eight potential impurities were identified, synthesized, and fully characterized. The validated RP-HPLC-UV assay and related substances methods were applied to forced degradation studies under thermal, photolytic, oxidative, neutral, acidic, and alkaline conditions, as well as to accelerated and long-term stability samples. Trace-level impurities were structurally elucidated using LC–QDa–MS and LC–QTOF–MS. In silico mutagenicity assessment of thirteen impurities using Nexus software classified IND-B ((R)-8-(benzyloxy)-5-(2-bromo-1-hydroxyethyl)-quinolin-2(1H)-one) as a Class 3 potential genotoxic impurity due to its alkyl bromide moiety. Although the TTC-based limit for IND-B (based on the ICH M7 threshold of 1.5 µg/day for a maximum daily dose of 300 µg) corresponds to ≤ 0.5%, all specified impurities were conservatively controlled at ≤ 0.15% and unspecified impurities at ≤ 0.10%, in line with ICH M7 and Q3A guidelines. The RP-HPLC-UV assay and related substances methods demonstrated specificity, precision, accuracy, linearity, and robustness, confirming their suitability as stability-indicating methods. Overall, this integrated approach provides a robust framework for impurity profiling, stability assessment, and genotoxic risk evaluation of indacaterol maleate, ensuring regulatory compliance and product quality throughout shelf life.