PDA Technical Glossary

PDA Technical Reports are highly valued membership benefits because they offer expert guidance and opinions on important scientific and regulatory topics and are used as essential references by industry and regulatory authorities around the world. These reports include terms which explain the material and enhance the reader’s understanding.

The database presented here includes the glossary terms from all current technical reports. The database is searchable by keyword, topic, or by technical report. Each definition provided includes a link to the source technical report within the  PDA Technical Report Portal.

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Process Performance Attribute (or Process Performance Parameter)
An output variable or outcome that cannot be directly controlled but is an indicator that the process performed as expected. (TR60-2)

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Process Analytical Technology (PAT)
A system for designing, analyzing, and controlling manufacturing through timely measurements (i.e., during processing) of critical quality and performance attributes of raw and in-process materials and processes with the goal of ensuring final product quality. (TR60) (TR60-2)

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Worst Case
A set of conditions encompassing upper and lower processing limits and circumstances, including those within standard operating procedures, that pose the greatest chance of process or product failure (when compared to ideal conditions). Such conditions do not necessarily induce product or process failure. (TR60) A set of conditions encompassing upper and lower processing limits and circumstances, including those within standard operating procedures, that pose the greatest chance of process or product failure (when compared to ideal conditions). Such conditions do not necessarily induce product or process failure. (TR62) (TR60-2)

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Target Product Profile (TPP)
A format for a summary of a drug development program described in terms of labeling concepts to facilitate communication regarding a particular drug development program. (TR60) (TR60-2)

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Process Validation
The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce an intermediate or API (drug substance) meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. (TR14) (TR42) Establishing documented evidence which provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process will consistently produce a product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. (TR44) The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality products. (TR54) (TR57) (TR74) The collection and evaluation of data, from the pro­cess design stage through commercial production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality product. The documented evidence that the process, op­erated within established parameters, can per­form effectively and reproducibly to produce a medicinal product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes, as described in EMA, EU GMP, Part 1, Annex 15, drug/me­dicinal product. (TR56) EMA: The documented evidence that the process, op­erated within established parameters, can per­form effectively and reproducibly to produce a medicinal product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. US FDA: The collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage through commercial pro­duction, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently deliver­ing quality products. (TR60-2) The documented evidence that the process, operated within established parameters, can perform effectively and reproducibly to produce an intermediate or drug substance meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes (1, 17). (TR60-3)

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Quality Attribute
A molecular or product characteristic that is selected for its ability to help indicate the quality of the product, such as identity, purity, potency stability and safety. (TR57) (TR57-2) A molecular or product characteristic that is selected for its ability to indicate the quality of the product. Collectively, the quality attributes define identity, purity, potency, and stability of the product, and safety with respect to adventi­tious agents. Specifications measure a selected subset of the quality attributes. (TR60-2)

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Critical Process Parameter (CPP) or Critical Operational Parameter
A process parameter whose variability has an impact on a critical quality attribute and therefore should be monitored or controlled to ensure the process produces the desired quality. (TR54) (TR54-4) (TR56) (TR54-5) (TR60-2) (TR5 6) (TR 81) An input process parameter that should be controlled within a meaningful operating range to ensure that drug substance critical quality attributes meet their specifications. Although parameters with wide operating ranges may also impact product quality, they are generally easily controlled and not as likely to result in excursions that impact quality and are therefore low risk of occurrence. (TR60-3)

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Continued Process Verification (CPV)
Assuring that during routine production the process remains in a state of control. (TR60) US FDA: Assuring that during routine production the process remains in a state of control. ICH: An alternative approach to process validation in which manufacturing process performance is continuously monitored and evaluated. (TR60-2)

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