Pharmacokinetics or PK is the study of what the body does to a drug while pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does in the body. One of the most important aspects of PK studies is the determination of the extent of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) of a pharmaceutical compound. In vitro ADME profiling investigates these four criteria that influence the drug levels and kinetics of drug exposure to tissues and hence influence the performance and pharmacological activity of the compound as a drug. While in vitro ADME assays provide a wealth of information on the new drug candidate, drug discovery research requires that this information be properly interpreted and extrapolated to in vivo situations and this is where in vivo PK comes in. In vivo PK allows the detailed analysis of drug exposure in terms of both its PK properties as well as toxicokinetics by providing vital information for the generation of plasma concentration versus time profiles.
The lack of a suitable PK profile has been cited in many cases as the primary reason for failure of new drug candidates in clinical trials. It is essential to select lead compounds in drug discovery research that exhibit an appropriate PK profile in order to achieve the desired pharmacological action and to minimize side effects. In vivo PK studies generate vital information on key pharmacokinetic parameters such as oral bioavailability, plasma clearance, volume of distribution and plasma half-life enabling the selection of the best pharmaceutical compounds for further development. NoAb BioDiscoveries is a research organization that delivers innovative tools and technologies that help to shape and optimize the drug discovery process. At the research facility located in the heart of one of North America's key biotech hubs, highly trained and experienced scientists carry out in vivo PK studies on fully conscious animals that have been appropriately cannulated for drug administration and sample collection.
The scientists design the best strategies and protocols for any drug discovery need and skillfully perform standard and specialized procedures according to customer specifications. The in vivo PK studies are carried out in-house under strict guidelines and although they are not performed according to GLP guidelines, they are performed under the same spirit with the proper controls. In vivo PK studies at NoAb BioDiscoveries include standard procedures such as studies in carotid artery and jugular vein catheterized rats with intra-duodenal dosing, carotid artery, jugular vein and bile duct catheterized rats and guinea pigs and hepatoportal vein catheterized rats. The research facility additionally offers two specialized in vivo PK techniques: microdialysis and cerebrospinal fluid and plasma collection in freely moving rats. More information on the details of these techniques is available at www.noabbiodiscoveries.com.
Recent advances in the throughput technology of LC-MS/MS methods has resulted in the generation of early stage PK data obtained from in vivo PK studies at NoAb BioDiscoveries allowing the early relationships between exposure and efficacy to be examined in parallel with pharmacological testing. The data generated optimizes lead selection of the best compounds for pre-clinical and clinical development using the appropriate PK profiles. NoAb BioDiscoveries is one of the frontrunners in drug discovery research because of its highly innovative and advanced in vivo PK studies, in vitro ADME assays and gene expression profiling; stay ahead of the competition by choosing these accelerated, superior scientific procedures that minimize cost and maximize success!
