Characterization of potential degradation products of brexpiprazole by liquid chromatography/quadrupole–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, and prediction of their physicochemical properties by ADMET Predictor™

Brexpiprazole (BRZ) was subjected to hydrolytic (acid, base and neutral), oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress degradation in solutions prepared in a mixture of acetonitrile-water (70:30 v/v). The oxidative study was additionally done in methanol-buffer mixture at pH 3, 7 and 11. Also, compatibility of the drug with selected excipients was investigated in the solid state. Additionally, physicochemical and ADMET properties of BRZ and its degradation products (DPs) were predicted using ADMET Predictor™ software. It provides the conditions for quality control of BRZ and its derivatives during manufacturing, processing and storage conditions.The formed DPs were separated from the drug and among themselves on a C-18 column utilizing mobile phase composed of methanol and ammonium formate buffer (10mM, pH 4.0), which was run in a gradient mode. Characterization of DPs was carried out by first establishing the mass fragmentation pathway of the drug based on its liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-MS) data, followed by LC/Q-TOF-MS studies of DPs. Three DPs were isolated and, along with the drug, they were subjected to 1D (1 H, 13 C and DEPT-135) and 2D (COSY and HSQC) NMR studies for confirmation of their structures.BRZ was observed to be susceptible to hydrolytic (neutral, acid and alkali), photolytic and oxidative degradation conditions; it was stable on thermal exposure. A total of 12 DPs (BRZ-1 to BRZ-12) were formed in solution state. Mechanisms of BRZ degradation were postulated.The extent of degradation of BRZ in different stress conditions highlights that stability of BRZ in drug formulations can be improved (i) by using excipients that can impart a low-pH microenvironment, (ii) by addition of antioxidants and (iii) through protection from light.