Development and validation of a stability-indicating reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography method for NPC 1161C, a novel 8-aminoquinoline anti-malarial drug

NPC 1161C (+/-8-(4-amino-1-methylbutyl)amino-5-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)-6-methoxy-4-methylquinoline succinate]) is a novel investigational antimalarial drug of interest for its in vivo oral potency, activity against blood and tissue stage parasites, favorable toxicity profile, long duration of action, and utility in both prophylaxis and treatment models. The pharmaceutical development of NPC 1161C warranted the availability of an assay for the detection and quantification of the drug and its separation from the impurities and degradation products. A simple and rapid stability-indicating reversed-phase HPLC method was developed and validated according to ICH guidelines. The method was found to be linear, precise and accurate. It also proved to be selective in the presence of impurities and degradation products during forced degradation studies. The method was found to be robust by factorial experimental design and was well within the recommended parameters of system suitability testing. Degradants of the drug during stress studies were also identified using high resolution mass spectrometry.