Are we doing too many animal biodisposition investigations before phase I studies in man? A re-evaluation of the timing and extent of ADME studies

Whether the Validation of the Predictive Potential of Toxicity Models is a Solved Task?

Different kinds of biological activities are defined by complex biochemical interactions, which are termed as a "mathematical function" not only of the molecular structure but also for some additional circumstances, such as physicochemical conditions, interactions via energy and information effects between a substance and organisms, organs, cells. These circumstances lead to the great complexity of prediction for biochemical endpoints, since all "details" of corresponding phenomena are practically unavailable for the accurate registration and analysis. Researchers have not a possibility to carry out and analyse all possible ways of the biochemical interactions, which define toxicological or therapeutically attractive effects via direct experiment. Consequently, a compromise, i.e. the development of predictive models of the above phenomena, becomes necessary. However, the estimation of the predictive potential of these models remains a task that is solved only partially. This mini-review presents a collection of attempts to be used for the above-mentioned task, two special statistical indices are proposed, which may be a measure of the predictive potential of models. These indices are (i) Index of Ideality of Correlation; and (ii) Correlation Contradiction Index.

The debate on animal ADME studies in drug development: an update

The preparation and release of the International Conference on Harmonisation guideline on safety evaluation of human metabolites and the technical progresses in bioanalysis have triggered an intense debate on the value of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion radiolabelled studies in animals. Some authors have radically challenged the traditional approach whereas others, while accepting the need of significant changes, argue that these studies remain an irreplaceable component of the preclinical registration dossier. This paper reviews some of the representative positions and describes the potential evolution.

Quantification of small molecule drugs in biological tissue sections by imaging mass spectrometry using surrogate tissue-based calibration standards

Quantitative analysis of administered drugs in biological tissues is essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying their efficacy or toxicity. Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) may allow the quantification of targeted drugs in tissue sections along with the visualization of their spatial distribution. In this study, surrogate tissue-based calibration standards were prepared to quantify a small molecule drug (S-777469 or raclopride) in tissue sections of mice administered with the drug, followed by analysis with a linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) source. The distribution of the drugs in the dissected organs was clearly visualized by MALDI-IMS. The drug concentration determined using the calibration standards prepared for MALDI-IMS analysis was highly consistent with that determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and the quantification in multiple organs was enabled. The results of this study show that MALDI-IMS can be used to quantify small molecule drugs in biological tissue sections using surrogate tissue-based calibration standards.

Quantitative imaging of a therapeutic peptide in biological tissue sections by MALDI MS

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic peptides and proteins are being increasingly explored as potential therapeutic agents for molecular-targeted therapy, and the requirement for quantitative bioanalytical tools for such molecules has been discussed.

RESULTS

The distribution of octreotide, a synthetic octapeptide analog of somatostatin, in the liver and kidney of mice administered with the analog was clearly visualized by MALDI-Imaging MS (IMS). The developed MALDI-IMS analytical method successfully quantified the amount of octreotide on tissue sections (accuracy was 76-127%) and the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid-based normalization method was effective.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that MALDI-IMS enables the quantification of an administered therapeutic peptide on biological tissue sections, as well as visualization of the in vivo distribution of the peptide.

Quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical drug distribution in multiple organs by imaging mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Recently, the requirement for a quantitative research method using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to be developed has been discussed. Specifically, the simultaneous quantification of a drug in multiple organs by using whole-body sections could be insightful for the pharmaceutical industry in the study of drug distribution.

METHODS

Frozen whole-body sections were obtained from mice injected with raclopride, a dopamine D2 receptor selective antagonist, and coated with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) matrix compound. The whole-body sections were then analyzed using a linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with a MALDI source. The concentration of raclopride in each tissue was determined using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

RESULTS

The IMS-based signal intensity of raclopride strongly correlated with the concentration of the drug in the tissue samples (R=0.94; p <0.001) of six different organs. Furthermore, the spatial information obtained by IMS was very similar to that obtained by autoradiography, which is a traditional technique used for the study of drug distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that IMS enables the quantitative analysis of drug distribution in multiple organs simultaneously. In addition, it enhances ideal drug candidate selection in terms of efficient evaluations.

METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION OF CALCIMIMETIC AGENT CINACALCET HCL IN HUMANS AND ANIMAL MODELS

The metabolism and disposition of calcimimetic agent cinacalcet HCl was examined after a single oral administration to mice, rats, monkeys, and human volunteers. In all species examined, cinacalcet was well absorbed, with greater than 74% oral bioavailability of cinacalcet-derived radioactivity in monkeys and humans. In rats, cinacalcet-derived radioactivity was widely distributed into most tissues, with no marked gender-related differences. In all animal models examined, radioactivity was excreted rapidly via both hepatobiliary and urinary routes. In humans, radioactivity was cleared primarily via the urinary route (80%), with 17% excreted in the feces. Cinacalcet was not detected in the urine in humans. The primary routes of metabolism of cinacalcet were N-dealkylation leading to carboxylic acid derivatives (excreted in urine as glycine conjugates) and oxidation of naphthalene ring to form dihydrodiols (excreted in urine and bile as glucuronide conjugates). The plasma radioactivity in both animals and humans was primarily composed of carboxylic acid metabolites and dihydrodiol glucuronides, with <1% circulating radioactivity accounting for the unchanged cinacalcet. Overall, the circulating and excreted metabolite profile of cinacalcet in humans was qualitatively similar to that observed in preclinical animal models.

Quantitative whole-body radioluminography-future strategy for balance and tissue distribution studies

The present routine to conduct balance and/or tissue dissection distribution studies has now and then been questioned, because the way they are generally conducted does not produce information in proportion to the spending of animal and personnel resources. Usually only total radioactivity is measured and due considerations are not always taken to the metabolic fate of the label. In this study a different strategy is presented-integrating quantitative whole-body radioluminography and different chromatographic methods on extracts of tissue pieces punched from the whole-body sections. In addition to the saving in cost and time, the proposed integrated whole-body radioluminographic/metabolic profile protocol will provide (i) a detailed picture of the distribution of radioactivity at selected dose levels and time points in male, female, and pregnant animals; (ii) the time course of radioactivity in blood/plasma and tissues selected from the images (approximate half-life and AUC); (iii) accumulated urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity and an estimate of the proportion of radioactive metabolites; (iv) tissue information about the proportion of parent drug versus metabolites of pieces punched from the whole-body sections; and (v) indications of possible tissue binding.