Extended stability of pantoprazole for injection in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose at 4°c and 23°c

The pantoprazole product available in Canada for IV administration has recently been reformulated to include ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA). The purpose of this study was to determine if the chemical stability of pantoprazole for injection containing EDTA (PANTO IV), admixed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) minibags at concentrations of 0.16 mg/mL and 0.80 mg/mL in 5% dextrose in water (D5W) or 0.9% sodium chloride for injection (normal saline [NS]) and stored at 4°C or 23°C, could be extended beyond the manufacturer's expiry period of 24 hours.

Sodium pantoprazole was reconstituted in NS or D5W, and 32 PVC minibags were prepared, 16 containing pantoprazole at a nominal concentration of 0.16 mg/mL (8 in NS, 8 in D5W) and 16 containing pantoprazole at a nominal concentration of 0.80 mg/mL (8 in NS, 8 in D5W). Half of the minibags for each diluent-concentration combination were stored at 4°C and half at room temperature (23°C). The concentration of pantoprazole in each minibag was determined by a validated, stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method on study days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, and 21.

Analysis of variance revealed differences in the percentage of drug remaining in relation to temperature (p < 0.001), study day (p = 0.001), concentration (p = 0.007), and diluent (p = 0.008).

Solutions of pantoprazole in D5W with concentration between 0.16 mg/mL and 0.80 mg/mL can be stored for a maximum of 11 days at 4°C plus an additional 6 h at 23°C. The saline solutions degraded more slowly, and pantoprazole admixtures in NS with concentration between 0.16 mg/mL and 0.80 mg/mL can be stored for 20 days at 4°C plus an additional 6 h at 23°C. Under these conditions, more than 90% of the initial concentration will remain (with 95% confidence).