EDQM announces revision of general chapter Monocyte Activation Test (2.6.30)

During the last two years, the chapters of the European Pharmacopoeia relating to the detection of Endotoxins and Pyrogens were successively updated or revised, e.g. 5.1.10. "Guidelines for Using the Test for Bacterial Endotoxins" or 2.6.8." Pyrogens" (see Pharmeuropa - Comments concerning revised texts about Bacterial Endotoxins). There, amongst others, the EDQM announced that the chapter 2.6.8. now includes a reference to 2.6.30. "Monocyte Activation Test" as a potential replacement for the test for pyrogens.

Last week, the EDQM published the information that  during its 155th Session held in Strasbourg on 21-22 June 2016, the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Commission adopted a revision of the general chapter Monocyte Activation Test (2.6.30).

It has been a goal of the Ph. Eur. Commission since nearly 30 years to consider the goals of the European Convention (ETS 123) to protect vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes and to minimise the number of animal testing in the revisions of their documents. 

The Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) is used to detect or quantify substances that activate human monocytes or monocytic cells to release endogenous mediators which have a role in the human fever response. The MAT is suitable, after product-specific validation, as a replacement for the rabbit pyrogen test (RPT). The revision of 2.6.30 should lead to a further reduction in the use of laboratory animals. It includes the results of the consultation of industry representatives, academics, regulatory authorities and Official Medicines Control Laboratories.

The revised general chapter Monocyte Activation Test (2.6.30) will be published in the Ph. Eur. Supplement 9.2 and will come into effect in July 2017.

For more information, please see the  EDQM announcement European Pharmacopoeia Commission adopts revised general chapter on Monocyte-activation test to facilitate reduction in testing on laboratory animals.