ICH Opens Public Consultation on Draft Q3E Guideline for Extractables and Leachables in Drug Products
Key Insights
The International Council for Harmonisation (search) has opened public consultation on its draft Q3E guideline for extractables (search) and leachables (search), which reached Step 2b of the ICH Process on August 1, 2025.
The framework expands existing ICH impurity guidelines to protect patient safety and product quality through assessment and control of leachable impurities (search) in drug products.
The guideline follows ICH Q9 risk management principles and is expected to assist pharmaceutical companies in license applications for medicinal products, including cell and gene therapies (search).
The International Council for Harmonisation (search) (ICH) has opened a public consultation on its draft Q3E guideline for extractables (search) and leachables (search), marking a significant expansion of regulatory frameworks for drug impurity control. The draft guideline reached Step 2b of the ICH Process on August 1, 2025, and entered the Step 3 public consultation period.
Comprehensive Framework for Leachable Impurities
The draft Guideline for Extractables (search) and Leachables (search) presents a framework and process for the assessment and control of leachable impurities (search), with a primary focus on organic leachables (search). This new guidance aims to protect both patient safety and product quality through systematic assessment and control of leachables in drug products.
The framework builds upon existing ICH guidelines on impurities, including impurities in new drug substances (ICH Q3A) and new drug products (ICH Q3B), residual solvents (search) (ICH Q3C), elemental impurities (search) (ICH Q3D), and DNA reactive (mutagenic) impurities (ICH M7). The guideline follows the principles of risk management as described in ICH Q9.
Broad Application Scope
The ICH expects the leachables (search) guidance in ICH Q3E to help pharmaceutical companies in their license applications for medicinal products, including cell and gene therapies (search). Drug delivery device components also fall within the guideline's scope, demonstrating its comprehensive approach to addressing potential sources of leachable impurities (search).
The framework should also assist regulatory authorities in their assessments of these products, providing standardized approaches for evaluating leachable impurities (search) across different therapeutic areas and product types.
Risk-Based Assessment Approach
While the guideline includes materials characterization and process understanding, its primary purpose focuses on protecting patient safety and product quality through assessment and control of leachables (search) in the drug product. The framework follows established risk management principles, ensuring that assessment and control processes are proportionate to potential risks.
Regulatory Context and Implementation
The ICH Q3E draft guideline was endorsed by the ICH assembly's regulatory members in 2019, reflecting long-standing recognition of the need for harmonized guidance in this area. The Council produces advisory guidelines covering technical requirements for pharmaceuticals intended for human use, spanning areas such as quality, safety, and efficacy.
The public consultation represents a critical step in the guideline development process, allowing stakeholders to provide input before final implementation. This consultation period enables pharmaceutical companies, regulatory authorities, and other interested parties to review and comment on the proposed framework.
Supporting Regulatory Harmonization
The new guideline contributes to ICH's broader mission of harmonizing technical requirements across different regulatory jurisdictions. By providing standardized approaches to extractables (search) and leachables (search) assessment, the guideline should facilitate more consistent regulatory decision-making and reduce duplicative testing requirements for companies developing products for multiple markets.