Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Research
Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026)

Creation and verification of an RP-UHPLC technique for abemaciclib and associated impurities in formulations and APIs using Box-Behnken design

Kalpana Krishnaraju (Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India- 600117)
Malarkodi Velraj (Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India- 600117)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: Strict impurity profiling is necessary to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and regulatory compliance of Abemaciclib (AbB), a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor frequently used in breast cancer treatment. However, a lack of thorough impurity separation, lengthy run times, and low sensitivity are common problems with current analytical techniques. Methodology: A novel reverse-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-UHPLC) method was developed using a Quality by Design (QbD) framework. Critical method parameters, including mobile phase pH, flow rate, and column temperature, were optimized using Box-Behnken Design (BBD). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column using an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) and ammonium formate buffer (pH 2.7). The technique was validated in accordance with the ICH Q2(R1) requirements. Results and Discussion: The optimized method demonstrated exceptional linearity over the range of 0.02–150 μg/mL (R² > 0.999) with excellent precision (RSD < 2% for AbB and < 10% for related impurities) and showed acceptable accuracy, with mean recoveries ranging from 92.76% to 102.88% across AbB and its related impurities. The detection and quantification limits for AbB were 0.01 μg/mL and 0.02 μg/mL, respectively. Forced degradation studies that effectively distinguished degradation products in oxidative, acidic, and alkaline settings confirmed the method's stability-indicating nature. The 8-minute run time allowed for quick examination. The integration of BBD-based QbD significantly enhanced method robustness, resolution, and sensitivity compared to conventional chromatographic approaches, allowing simultaneous quantification of AbB and its related impurities. Conclusion: For routine quality control, stability investigations, and regulatory-compliant impurity profiling of Abemaciclib, the developed RP-UHPLC method is quick, sensitive, reliable, and appropriate.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

joapr

Publisher

Subject

Medicine & Pharmacology

Description

Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Research (JOAPR) is an official publication of Creative Pharma Assent (CPA). It is an open access, peer review online international journal. JOAPR is primarily focused on multiple discipline of pharmaceutical sciences (Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Technology, ...