A "Just-In-Time" Approach to Drug Metabolism and
Pharmacokinetics in Pharmaceutical R&D
Stephen H. Curry Ph.D., D.Sc.(Med.)
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Rochester
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 24733
Rochester, NY, 14624
Telephone: 716-259-7088
E-mail: stephenhcurry@earthlink.net
A recent consequence of the search for efficiency in pharmaceutical R & D has been incorporation of studies of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), and related disciplines, into the process which leads to a candidate drug, or a compound nominated to enter multiple-dose GLP toxicology, prior to Phase I healthy volunteer studies. In this article, models of DMPK before and after pharmacological characterization, and of DMPK involved in a fragmented linear process, as opposed to involvement in an organized whole using a team-based process, are considered. An integrated approach involving Discovery teams of medicinal chemists, biologists, and DMPK and related personnel, with strong physical chemistry underpinning is favored. DMPK conducted in this way is named "Just-in-Time" Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics.
Pharmaceutical News, 8, 60 - 65, 2001
Just-in-Time Concepts