A Stability-Indicating LC Assay Method for Pemetrexed Disodium

This present work describes the development of a stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of pemetrexed disodium. Pemetrexed disodium is an antifolate antineoplastic agent that exerts its action by disrupting folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication. The chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACE 3 C18 HPLC column using a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of buffer (solvent A) and organic modifier acetonitrile (solvent B). Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk sample of pemetrexed disodium using acid (0.5 N hydrochloric acid), base (0.5 N sodium hydroxide), oxidation (10% v/v hydrogen peroxide), heat (60 °C) and UV light (254 nm). Degradation of the drug substance was observed in base hydrolysis. Degradation product formed under acid and base hydrolysis was found to be starting material. The stressed samples were assayed using the developed LC method and the mass balance found was close to 99.5%, thus proving its stability-indicating power. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness.