Cleaning validation of zidovudine: strategy applied to the process manufacture of antiretroviral medicines

Abstract

The cleaning validation is integrant part of the laws of good manufacturing practices of medicines. Cleaning validation procedures are carried out in order to assure that residues are within acceptable limits after the cleaning process. Very little has been published regarding practices within the pharmaceutical industry. This work presents a strategy for cleaning validation of the process equipments of the medicine zidovudine produced by LAFEPE (Recife - PE, Brazil) utilized in AIDS treatment. An analytical method by spectrofotometry and samples surfaces by swab was utilized. The acceptance criteria from the cleaning utilized was 10 ppm of zidovudine in the subsequent product (stavudine). The residues of zidovudine found in the equipment after cleaning were lower that limits established as well as to the smaller level of concentration capable of producing pharmacological effects.