Assessment of compatibility of rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3 with neonatal intravenous medications

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human (rh)IGF-1/IGFBP-3 protein complex, administered as a continuous intravenous infusion in preterm infants, is being studied for the prevention of complications of prematurity. METHODS: We conducted in vitro studies to evaluate the physical and chemical compatibility of rhIGF-1/IGFBP-3 with medications routinely administered to preterm neonates. In vitro mixing of rhIGF-1/IGFBP-3 drug product with small-molecule test medications plus corresponding controls was performed. Physical compatibility was defined as no color change, precipitation, turbidity, gas evolution, no clinically relevant change in pH/osmolality or loss in medication content. Chemical compatibility of small molecules was assessed using liquid chromatography (e.g., reverse-phase HPLC and ion chromatography), with incompatibility defined as loss of concentration of ≥ 10%. A risk evaluation was conducted for each medication based on in vitro compatibility data and potential for chemical modification. RESULTS: In vitro physical compatibility was established for 11/19 medications: caffeine citrate, fentanyl, fluconazole, gentamicin, insulin, intravenous fat emulsion, midazolam, morphine sulfate, custom-mixed parenteral nutrition solution (with/without electrolytes), parenteral nutrition solution + intravenous fat emulsion, and vancomycin (dosed from a 5 mg/mL solution), but not for 8/19 medications: amikacin, ampicillin, dopamine, dobutamine, furosemide, meropenem, norepinephrine, and penicillin G, largely owing to changes in pH after mixing. Small-molecule compatibility was unaffected post-mixing, with no loss of small-molecule content. For physically compatible medications, risk analyses confirmed low probability and severity of a risk event. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3 drug product with various medications was assessed by in vitro studies using case-by-case risk analyses to determine the suitability of the products for co-administration. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12519-022-00610-9.