Stability-indicating Reverse Phase-HPLC Method Development and Method Validation for Quantitative Determination of Degradation Products in Favipiravir API and Drug Product

Introduction: Favipiravir is an antiviral medication shown to be broad spectrum activity against RNA viruses, and potentially treating the COVID-19.

Methodology: In this study, the HPLC method for the quantification of degradation impurities (Favipiravir Acid Impurities) were developed and validated for Favipiravir in Tablet dosage form. The specificity of the method was achieved in analytical column Agilent HPLC-C18, 5µm, (4.6 x250) mm. using a suitable mobile phase was 10 mM Phosphate buffer (pH 3.5 with orthophosphoric acid) and Acetonitrile in the Isocratic more of 70:30 v/v. The flow rate is 1.0 mL/min. the injection volume is 10 µL, detection at 320 nm in UV and total run time is 8.0 minutes. The samples were made for forced degradation under hydrolysis, oxidation, photolytic and thermal conditions. The method was validated for specific, selective, linear, robust and accurate as per the ICH guidelines.

Results and Conclusion: The linearity of the method for Impurities and the analytes was found from 25 to 150 % concentration level with the correlation coefficient (r2) > 0.999. The accuracy for impurity and the analytes was performed from 50 to 150% level concentration, and mean recovery was found from 98-102%. The analytical degradation and validated study results indicate its unstable nature in acidic, basic and thermal conditions. Therefore, this method is simple, selective and sensitive, this method can be used in pharmaceutical research and development and quality control departments.