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Brennan RJ, Jenkinson S, Brown A, Delaunois A, Dumotier B, Pannirselvam M, Rao M, Ribeiro LR, Schmidt F, Sibony A, Timsit Y, Sales VT, Armstrong D, Lagrutta A, Mittlestadt SW, Naven R, Peri R, Roberts S, Vergis JM, Valentin JP. The state of the art in secondary pharmacology and its impact on the safety of new medicines. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:525-545. [PMID: 38773351 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00942-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Secondary pharmacology screening of investigational small-molecule drugs for potentially adverse off-target activities has become standard practice in pharmaceutical research and development, and regulatory agencies are increasingly requesting data on activity against targets with recognized adverse effect relationships. However, the screening strategies and target panels used by pharmaceutical companies may vary substantially. To help identify commonalities and differences, as well as to highlight opportunities for further optimization of secondary pharmacology assessment, we conducted a broad-ranging survey across 18 companies under the auspices of the DruSafe leadership group of the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development. Based on our analysis of this survey and discussions and additional research within the group, we present here an overview of the current state of the art in secondary pharmacology screening. We discuss best practices, including additional safety-associated targets not covered by most current screening panels, and present approaches for interpreting and reporting off-target activities. We also provide an assessment of the safety impact of secondary pharmacology screening, and a perspective on opportunities and challenges in this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mohan Rao
- Janssen Research & Development, San Diego, CA, USA
- Neurocrine Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lyn Rosenbrier Ribeiro
- UCB Biopharma, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
- AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Grunenthal, Berkshire, UK
| | | | | | - Yoav Timsit
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Blueprint Medicines, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Duncan Armstrong
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Armstrong Pharmacology, Macclesfield, UK
| | | | | | - Russell Naven
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ravikumar Peri
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Sonia Roberts
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - James M Vergis
- Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, LLP, Washington, DC, USA
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2
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Pawluk E, Delaunois A, Gamboa B, Valentin JP. Comparison of electrocardiogram and blood pressure recording methods in non-rodent toxicology studies: A retrospective analysis. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2024:107537. [PMID: 38955286 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2024.107537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Our study retrospectively examines 51 non-rodent general toxicology studies conducted over the past 8 years to ascertain the influence of recording methodologies on baseline cardiovascular (CV) parameters and statistical sensitivity. Specifically, our work aims to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular parameter recording categorized by therapeutic modality and study type, to assess the variability in these parameters based on measurement techniques, and to determine the sample sizes needed for detecting relevant changes in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and QTc interval in non-human primate (NHP) studies. Results indicate that electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements in dogs and NHP were recorded in 63% of studies, combined with BP recording in 18% of studies, while BP was never recorded alone. Trend analysis reveals a decline in the utilisation of restraint-based methods for ECG measurements post-2017, to the benefit of telemetry-based recordings, particularly Jacketed External Telemetry (JET). There was a marked difference in baseline values, with restraint-based methods showing significantly higher HR and QTc values compared to JET, likely linked to animal stress. Further analysis suggests an unrealistic and unethical sample size requirement in NHP studies for detecting biologically meaningful CV parameter changes using restraint-based methods, while JET methods necessitate significantly smaller sample sizes. This retrospective study indicates a notable shift from snapshots short-duration, restraint-based methods towards telemetry approaches over the recent years, especially with an increased usage of implanted telemetry. The transition contributes to potential consensus within industry or regulatory frameworks for optimal practices in assessing ECG, HR, and BP in general toxicology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Pawluk
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium.
| | - Annie Delaunois
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Bastien Gamboa
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
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3
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Saravanan KM, Wan JF, Dai L, Zhang J, Zhang JZH, Zhang H. A deep learning based multi-model approach for predicting drug-like chemical compound's toxicity. Methods 2024; 226:164-175. [PMID: 38702021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Ensuring the safety and efficacy of chemical compounds is crucial in small-molecule drug development. In the later stages of drug development, toxic compounds pose a significant challenge, losing valuable resources and time. Early and accurate prediction of compound toxicity using deep learning models offers a promising solution to mitigate these risks during drug discovery. In this study, we present the development of several deep-learning models aimed at evaluating different types of compound toxicity, including acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, hERG_cardiotoxicity (the human ether-a-go-go related gene caused cardiotoxicity), hepatotoxicity, and mutagenicity. To address the inherent variations in data size, label type, and distribution across different types of toxicity, we employed diverse training strategies. Our first approach involved utilizing a graph convolutional network (GCN) regression model to predict acute toxicity, which achieved notable performance with Pearson R 0.76, 0.74, and 0.65 for intraperitoneal, intravenous, and oral administration routes, respectively. Furthermore, we trained multiple GCN binary classification models, each tailored to a specific type of toxicity. These models exhibited high area under the curve (AUC) scores, with an impressive AUC of 0.69, 0.77, 0.88, and 0.79 for predicting carcinogenicity, hERG_cardiotoxicity, mutagenicity, and hepatotoxicity, respectively. Additionally, we have used the approved drug dataset to determine the appropriate threshold value for the prediction score in model usage. We integrated these models into a virtual screening pipeline to assess their effectiveness in identifying potential low-toxicity drug candidates. Our findings indicate that this deep learning approach has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and risk associated with drug development by expediting the selection of compounds with low toxicity profiles. Therefore, the models developed in this study hold promise as critical tools for early drug candidate screening and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konda Mani Saravanan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600073, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jiang-Fan Wan
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Drug Evaluation and Inspection of NMPA, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Liujiang Dai
- Guangdong Immune Cell Therapy Engineering and Technology Research Center, Center for Protein and Cell-Based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiajun Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; College of Science, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha 410205, China
| | - John Z H Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Haiping Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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4
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Morrison AI, Sjoerds MJ, Vonk LA, Gibbs S, Koning JJ. In vitro immunity: an overview of immunocompetent organ-on-chip models. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1373186. [PMID: 38835750 PMCID: PMC11148285 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1373186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Impressive advances have been made to replicate human physiology in vitro over the last few years due to the growth of the organ-on-chip (OoC) field in both industrial and academic settings. OoCs are a type of microphysiological system (MPS) that imitates functional and dynamic aspects of native human organ biology on a microfluidic device. Organoids and organotypic models, ranging in their complexity from simple single-cell to complex multi-cell type constructs, are being incorporated into OoC microfluidic devices to better mimic human physiology. OoC technology has now progressed to the stage at which it has received official recognition by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an alternative to standard procedures in drug development, such as animal studies and traditional in vitro assays. However, an area that is still lagging behind is the incorporation of the immune system, which is a critical element required to investigate human health and disease. In this review, we summarise the progress made to integrate human immunology into various OoC systems, specifically focusing on models related to organ barriers and lymphoid organs. These models utilise microfluidic devices that are either commercially available or custom-made. This review explores the difference between the use of innate and adaptive immune cells and their role for modelling organ-specific diseases in OoCs. Immunocompetent multi-OoC models are also highlighted and the extent to which they recapitulate systemic physiology is discussed. Together, the aim of this review is to describe the current state of immune-OoCs, the limitations and the future perspectives needed to improve the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew I. Morrison
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mirthe J. Sjoerds
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leander A. Vonk
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susan Gibbs
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jasper J. Koning
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Pierson JB, Berridge B, Blinova K, Brooks MB, Eldridge S, O'Brien CE, Pugsley MK, Schultze AE, Smith G, Stockbridge N, Valentin JP, Vicente J. Collaborative science in action: A 20 year perspective from the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Cardiac Safety Committee. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2024; 127:107511. [PMID: 38710237 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2024.107511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to resolving global health challenges through collaborative scientific efforts across academia, regulatory authorities and the private sector. Collaborative science across non-clinical disciplines offers an important keystone to accelerate the development of safer and more effective medicines. HESI works to address complex challenges by leveraging diverse subject-matter expertise across sectors offering access to resources, data and shared knowledge. In 2008, the HESI Cardiac Safety Committee (CSC) was established to improve public health by reducing unanticipated cardiovascular (CV)-related adverse effects from pharmaceuticals or chemicals. The committee continues to significantly impact the field of CV safety by bringing together experts from across sectors to address challenges of detecting and predicting adverse cardiac outcomes. Committee members have collaborated on the organization, management and publication of prospective studies, retrospective analyses, workshops, and symposia resulting in 38 peer reviewed manuscripts. Without this collaboration these manuscripts would not have been published. Through their work, the CSC is actively addressing challenges and opportunities in detecting potential cardiac failure modes using in vivo, in vitro and in silico models, with the aim of facilitating drug development and improving study design. By examining past successes and future prospects of the CSC, this manuscript sheds light on how the consortium's multifaceted approach not only addresses current challenges in detecting potential cardiac failure modes but also paves the way for enhanced drug development and study design methodologies. Further, exploring future opportunities and challenges will focus on improving the translational predictability of nonclinical evaluations and reducing reliance on animal research in CV safety assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marjory B Brooks
- Comparative Coagulation Section, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sandy Eldridge
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claire E O'Brien
- Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Michael K Pugsley
- Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology, Cytokinetics, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Eric Schultze
- Pathology, Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Godfrey Smith
- Clyde Biosciences Ltd, Newhouse, UK; University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Development Science, Non-Clinical Safety Evaluation, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Jose Vicente
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Koshman YE, Kohnken R, Logan MR, Mittelstadt SW, Foley CM. Preclinical cardiovascular safety assessment of pharmacology-toxicology relationship for a set of novel kinase inhibitors. Toxicol Sci 2024; 198:316-327. [PMID: 38191231 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular toxicity is one of the more common causes of attrition in preclinical and clinical drug development. Preclinical cardiovascular safety assessment involves numerous in vitro and in vivo endpoints which are being continually reviewed and improved to lower the incidence of cardiovascular toxicity that manifests only after the initiation of clinical trials. An example of notable preclinical toxicity is necrosis in the papillary muscle of the left ventricle in dogs that is induced by exaggerated pharmacological effects of vasodilators or positive inotropic/vasodilating off-target drug effects. Two distinct, small-molecule inhibitors that target an intracellular kinase, Compound A and Compound B, were profiled in 2-week dose-range finding and 4-week toxicity studies. Serum cardiac troponin (cTnI) was evaluated after a single dose and after 2-week and 4-week repeat dose studies with each kinase inhibitor. Acute effects on hemodynamic (heart rate, blood pressures, left ventricular contractility) and electrocardiographic (QTcV, PR, QRS intervals) endpoints by each inhibitor were assessed in an anesthetized dog cardiovascular model. Cardiovascular degeneration/necrosis with and without fibrosis was observed in dogs and correlated to increases in serum cTnI in repeat-dose toxicity studies. At the same doses used in toxicologic assessments, both kinase inhibitors produced sustained increases in heart rate, left ventricular contractility, and cardiac output, and decreases in mean arterial pressure. Cardiac pathology findings associated with these 2 kinase inhibitors were accompanied not only by cardiac troponin elevations but also associated with hemodynamic changes, highlighting the importance of the link of the physiologic-toxicologic interplay in cardiovascular safety assessment.
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Jadalannagari S, Ewart L. Beyond the hype and toward application: liver complex in vitro models in preclinical drug safety. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38465923 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2024.2328794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug induced Liver-Injury (DILI) is a leading cause of drug attrition and complex in vitro models (CIVMs), including three dimensional (3D) spheroids, 3D bio printed tissues and flow-based systems, could improve preclinical prediction. Although CIVMs have demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in DILI detection their adoption remains limited. AREAS COVERED This article describes DILI, the challenges with its prediction and the current strategies and models that are being used. It reviews data from industry-FDA collaborations and strategic partnerships and finishes with an outlook of CIVMs in preclinical toxicity testing. Literature searches were performed using PubMed and Google Scholar while product information was collected from manufacturer websites. EXPERT OPINION Liver CIVMs are promising models for predicting DILI although, a decade after their introduction, routine use by the pharmaceutical industry is limited. To accelerate their adoption, several industry-regulator-developer partnerships or consortia have been established to guide the development and qualification. Beyond this, liver CIVMs should continue evolving to capture greater immunological mimicry while partnering with computational approaches to deliver systems that change the paradigm of predicting DILI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorna Ewart
- Department of Bioinnovations, Emulate Inc, Boston, MA, USA
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Halder A, Drummond E. Strategies for translating proteomics discoveries into drug discovery for dementia. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:132-139. [PMID: 37488854 PMCID: PMC10479849 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.373681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, diseases characterized by neuropathological aggregates of tau including Alzheimer's disease and subtypes of frontotemporal dementia, make up the vast majority of dementia cases. Although there have been recent developments in tauopathy biomarkers and disease-modifying treatments, ongoing progress is required to ensure these are effective, economical, and accessible for the globally ageing population. As such, continued identification of new potential drug targets and biomarkers is critical. "Big data" studies, such as proteomics, can generate information on thousands of possible new targets for dementia diagnostics and therapeutics, but currently remain underutilized due to the lack of a clear process by which targets are selected for future drug development. In this review, we discuss current tauopathy biomarkers and therapeutics, and highlight areas in need of improvement, particularly when addressing the needs of frail, comorbid and cognitively impaired populations. We highlight biomarkers which have been developed from proteomic data, and outline possible future directions in this field. We propose new criteria by which potential targets in proteomics studies can be objectively ranked as favorable for drug development, and demonstrate its application to our group's recent tau interactome dataset as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Halder
- School of Medical Sciences and Brain & Mind Center, University of Sydney, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Aged Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Eleanor Drummond
- School of Medical Sciences and Brain & Mind Center, University of Sydney, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Jessen BA, Cornwell P, Redmond S, Visalli T, Lemper M, Bunch T, Hart T. An IQ consortium analysis of starting dose selection for oncology small molecule first-in-patient trials suggests an alternative NOAEL-based method can be safe while reducing time to the recommended phase 2 dose. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2023; 92:455-464. [PMID: 37505272 PMCID: PMC10638197 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04570-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The first-in-patient (FIP) starting dose for oncology agents should be reasonably safe and provide potential therapeutic benefit to the patient. For late-stage oncology patients, this dose is often based on the ICH S9 guidance, which was developed primarily based on experience with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents using the rodent STD10 or non-rodent HNSTD and an appropriate safety factor. With the increase in molecularly targeted chemotherapeutics, it is prudent to re-evaluate how the FIP dose is derived to ensure that the appropriate balance between risk and therapeutic benefit to the patient is achieved. Blinded data on 92 small molecule oncology compounds from 12 pharmaceutical companies who are members of the IQ DruSafe consortium were gathered to investigate if a NOAEL-based starting dose without a safety factor would have been tolerated in the FIP trial and if so, estimating how many dose escalation cohorts could have been reduced. Our analysis suggests that the NOAEL-based alternative starting dose would have been tolerated in most cases evaluated, with an anticipated mean reduction of 2.3 cohorts. Of the 12 cases where the alternative approach resulted in a starting dose that would have exceeded the MTD/RP2D, none of the nonclinical toxicities in these cases were considered irreversible and would be monitorable in all but one instance. Most non-tolerated cases were within two-threefold of the MTD/RP2D, with the clinical AEs considered manageable and mitigated by dose de-escalation. No one method of FIP dose calculation will likely be appropriate for all oncology small molecules and starting dose selection should be performed using a case-by-case approach. However, the NOAEL-based method that does not utilize a safety factor should be considered when appropriate to minimize the number of patients exposed to sub-therapeutic doses of an investigational oncology agent and accelerating development to RP2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart A Jessen
- Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
| | - Paul Cornwell
- Eli Lilly, Nonclinical Safety Assessment, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sean Redmond
- Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Thomas Visalli
- Eisai Inc., Global Nonclinical Regulatory, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA
| | - Marie Lemper
- Development Science, UCB, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Todd Bunch
- Nonclinical Safety Evaluation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA
| | - Timothy Hart
- GlaxoSmithKline, IVIVT, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
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Sinha K, Ghosh N, Sil PC. A Review on the Recent Applications of Deep Learning in Predictive Drug Toxicological Studies. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:1174-1205. [PMID: 37561655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Drug toxicity prediction is an important step in ensuring patient safety during drug design studies. While traditional preclinical studies have historically relied on animal models to evaluate toxicity, recent advances in deep-learning approaches have shown great promise in advancing drug safety science and reducing animal use in preclinical studies. However, deep-learning-based approaches also face challenges in handling large biological data sets, model interpretability, and regulatory acceptance. In this review, we provide an overview of recent developments in deep-learning-based approaches for predicting drug toxicity, highlighting their potential advantages over traditional methods and the need to address their limitations. Deep-learning models have demonstrated excellent performance in predicting toxicity outcomes from various data sources such as chemical structures, genomic data, and high-throughput screening assays. The potential of deep learning for automated feature engineering is also discussed. This review emphasizes the need to address ethical concerns related to the use of deep learning in drug toxicity studies, including the reduction of animal use and ensuring regulatory acceptance. Furthermore, emerging applications of deep learning in drug toxicity prediction, such as predicting drug-drug interactions and toxicity in rare subpopulations, are highlighted. The integration of deep-learning-based approaches with traditional methods is discussed as a way to develop more reliable and efficient predictive models for drug safety assessment, paving the way for safer and more effective drug discovery and development. Overall, this review highlights the critical role of deep learning in predictive toxicology and drug safety evaluation, emphasizing the need for continued research and development in this rapidly evolving field. By addressing the limitations of traditional methods, leveraging the potential of deep learning for automated feature engineering, and addressing ethical concerns, deep-learning-based approaches have the potential to revolutionize drug toxicity prediction and improve patient safety in drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnendu Sinha
- Department of Zoology, Jhargram Raj College, Jhargram 721507, West Bengal, India
| | - Nabanita Ghosh
- Department of Zoology, Maulana Azad College, Kolkata 700013, West Bengal, India
| | - Parames C Sil
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, West Bengal, India
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Martinez-Lopez S, Angel-Gomis E, Sanchez-Ardid E, Pastor-Campos A, Picó J, Gomez-Hurtado I. The 3Rs in Experimental Liver Disease. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2357. [PMID: 37508134 PMCID: PMC10376896 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with cirrhosis present multiple physiological and immunological alterations that play a very important role in the development of clinically relevant secondary complications to the disease. Experimentation in animal models is essential to understand the pathogenesis of human diseases and, considering the high prevalence of liver disease worldwide, to understand the pathophysiology of disease progression and the molecular pathways involved, due to the complexity of the liver as an organ and its relationship with the rest of the organism. However, today there is a growing awareness about the sensitivity and suffering of animals, causing opposition to animal research among a minority in society and some scientists, but also about the attention to the welfare of laboratory animals since this has been built into regulations in most nations that conduct animal research. In 1959, Russell and Burch published the book "The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique", proposing that in those experiments where animals were necessary, everything possible should be done to try to replace them with non-sentient alternatives, to reduce to a minimum their number, and to refine experiments that are essential so that they caused the least amount of pain and distress. In this review, a comprehensive summary of the most widely used techniques to replace, reduce, and refine in experimental liver research is offered, to assess the advantages and weaknesses of available experimental liver disease models for researchers who are planning to perform animal studies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Martinez-Lopez
- Instituto ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550 Sant Joan, Spain
| | - Enrique Angel-Gomis
- Instituto ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550 Sant Joan, Spain
| | - Elisabet Sanchez-Ardid
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Patología Digestiva, Institut de Recerca IIB-Sant Pau, Hospital de Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Pastor-Campos
- Oficina de Investigación Responsable, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Joanna Picó
- Instituto ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, 03010 Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabel Gomez-Hurtado
- Instituto ISABIAL, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550 Sant Joan, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
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12
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Altrocchi C, Van Ammel K, Steemans M, Kreir M, Tekle F, Teisman A, Gallacher DJ, Lu HR. Evaluation of chronic drug-induced electrophysiological and cytotoxic effects using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1229960. [PMID: 37492082 PMCID: PMC10364322 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1229960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cardiotoxicity is one of the leading causes of compound attrition during drug development. Most in vitro screening platforms aim at detecting acute cardio-electrophysiological changes and drug-induced chronic functional alterations are often not studied in the early stage of drug development. Therefore, we developed an assay using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) that evaluates both drug-induced acute and delayed electrophysiological and cytotoxic effects of reference compounds with clinically known cardiac outcomes. Methods: hiPSC-CMs were seeded in 48-well multielectrode array (MEA) plates and were treated with four doses of reference compounds (covering and exceeding clinical free plasma peak concentrations -fCmax values) and MEA recordings were conducted for 4 days. Functional-electrophysiological (field-potentials) and viability (impedance) parameters were recorded with a MEA machine. Results: To assess this platform, we tested tyrosine-kinase inhibitors with high-cardiac risk profile (sunitinib, vandetanib and nilotinib) and low-cardiac risk (erlotinib), as well as known classic cardiac toxic drugs (doxorubicin and BMS-986094), ion-channel trafficking inhibitors (pentamidine, probucol and arsenic trioxide) and compounds without known clinical cardiotoxicity (amoxicillin, cetirizine, captopril and aspirin). By evaluating the effects of these compounds on MEA parameters, the assay was mostly able to recapitulate different drug-induced cardiotoxicities, represented by a prolongation of the field potential, changes in beating rate and presence of arrhythmic events in acute (<2 h) or delayed phase ≥24 h, and/or reduction of impedance during the delayed phase (≥24 h). Furthermore, a few reference compounds were tested in hiPSC-CMs using fluorescence- and luminescence-based plate reader assays, confirming the presence or absence of cytotoxic effects, linked to changes of the impedance parameters measured in the MEA assay. Of note, some cardiotoxic effects could not be identified at acute time points (<2 h) but were clearly detected after 24 h, reinforcing the importance of chronic drug evaluation. Discussion: In conclusion, the evaluation of chronic drug-induced cardiotoxicity using a hiPSC-CMs in vitro assay can contribute to the early de-risking of compounds and help optimize the drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Altrocchi
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - K. Van Ammel
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - M. Steemans
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Cell Health Assessment Group, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - M. Kreir
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - F. Tekle
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Statistics and Decision Sciences, Global Development, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - A. Teisman
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - D. J. Gallacher
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - H. R. Lu
- A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Global Safety Pharmacology, Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
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13
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Leow JWH, Gu Y, Chan ECY. Investigating the relevance of CYP2J2 inhibition for drugs known to cause intermediate to high risk torsades de pointes. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 187:106475. [PMID: 37225005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) metabolizes endogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA), to bioactive regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) metabolites. This endogenous metabolic pathway has been postulated to play a homeostatic role in cardiac electrophysiology. However, it is unknown if drugs that cause intermediate to high risk torsades de pointes (TdP) exhibit inhibitory effects against CYP2J2 metabolism of AA to EETs. In this study, we demonstrated that 11 out of 16 drugs screened with intermediate to high risk of TdP as defined by the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative are concurrently reversible inhibitors of CYP2J2 metabolism of AA, with unbound inhibitory constant (Ki,AA,u) values ranging widely from 0.132 to 19.9 µM. To understand the physiological relevancy of Ki,AA,u, the in vivo unbound drug concentration within human heart tissue (Cu,heart) was calculated via experimental determination of in vitro unbound partition coefficient (Kpuu) for 10 CYP2J2 inhibitors using AC16 human ventricular cardiomyocytes as well as literature-derived values of fraction unbound in plasma (fu,p) and plasma drug concentrations in clinical scenarios leading to TdP. Notably, all CYP2J2 inhibitors screened belonging to the high TdP risk category, namely vandetanib and bepridil, exhibited highest Kpuu values of 18.2 ± 1.39 and 7.48 ± 1.16 respectively although no clear relationship between Cu,heart and risk of TdP could eventually be determined. R values based on basic models of reversible inhibition as per FDA guidelines were calculated using unbound plasma drug concentrations (Cu,plasma) and adapted using Cu,heart which suggested that 4 out of 10 CYP2J2 inhibitors with intermediate to high risk of TdP demonstrate greatest potential for clinically relevant in vivo cardiac drug-AA interactions. Our results shed novel insights on the relevance of CYP2J2 inhibition in drugs with risk of TdP. Further studies ascertaining the role of CYP2J2 metabolism of AA in cardiac electrophysiology, characterizing inherent cardiac ion channel activities of drugs with risk of TdP as well as in vivo evidence of drug-AA interactions will be required prior to determining if CYP2J2 inhibition could be an alternative mechanism contributing to drug-induced TdP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Wen Hui Leow
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543
| | - Yuxiang Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China
| | - Eric Chun Yong Chan
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543.
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14
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Pognan F, Beilmann M, Boonen HCM, Czich A, Dear G, Hewitt P, Mow T, Oinonen T, Roth A, Steger-Hartmann T, Valentin JP, Van Goethem F, Weaver RJ, Newham P. The evolving role of investigative toxicology in the pharmaceutical industry. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:317-335. [PMID: 36781957 PMCID: PMC9924869 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00633-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
For decades, preclinical toxicology was essentially a descriptive discipline in which treatment-related effects were carefully reported and used as a basis to calculate safety margins for drug candidates. In recent years, however, technological advances have increasingly enabled researchers to gain insights into toxicity mechanisms, supporting greater understanding of species relevance and translatability to humans, prediction of safety events, mitigation of side effects and development of safety biomarkers. Consequently, investigative (or mechanistic) toxicology has been gaining momentum and is now a key capability in the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of the field using case studies and discuss the potential impact of ongoing technological developments, based on a survey of investigative toxicologists from 14 European-based medium-sized to large pharmaceutical companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Pognan
- Discovery and Investigative Safety, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Mario Beilmann
- Nonclinical Drug Safety Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Harrie C M Boonen
- Drug Safety, Dept of Exploratory Toxicology, Lundbeck A/S, Valby, Denmark
| | | | - Gordon Dear
- In Vitro In Vivo Translation, GlaxoSmithKline David Jack Centre for Research, Ware, UK
| | - Philip Hewitt
- Chemical and Preclinical Safety, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tomas Mow
- Safety Pharmacology and Early Toxicology, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Teija Oinonen
- Preclinical Safety, Orion Corporation, Espoo, Finland
| | - Adrian Roth
- Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Freddy Van Goethem
- Predictive, Investigative & Translational Toxicology, Nonclinical Safety, Janssen Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Richard J Weaver
- Innovation Life Cycle Management, Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Suresnes, France
| | - Peter Newham
- Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK.
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15
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Valentin JP, Leishman D. 2000-2023 over two decades of ICH S7A: has the time come for a revamp? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 139:105368. [PMID: 36841350 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The ICH S7A guideline on safety pharmacology studies released over 20 years ago largely achieved its objective "to help protect clinical trial participants and patients receiving marketed products from potential adverse effects of pharmaceuticals". Although, Phase I clinical trials are generally very safe, the incidence and severity of adverse events, the safety related attrition and product withdrawal remain elevated during late-stage clinical development and post approval, a proportion of which can be attributed at least in part to safety pharmacology related issues. Considering the latest scientific and technological advancements in drug safety science, the paradigm shift of the drug discovery and development process and the continuously evolving regulatory landscape, we recommend revisiting, adapting and evolving the ICH S7A guideline. This might offer opportunities i) to select and progress optimized drugs with increased confidence in success, ii) to refine and adapt the clinical monitoring at all stages of clinical development resulting in an optimized benefit/risk assessment, iii) to increase likelihood of regulatory acceptance in a way compatible with an expedited and streamlined drug discovery and development process to benefit patients and iv) to avoid the unnecessary use of animals in 'tick-the-box' studies and encourage alternative approaches. As presented in the article, several options could be envisioned to revisit and adapt the ICH S7A taking into consideration several key features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB-Biopharma SRL, Early Solutions, Development Science, Non-Clinical Safety Evaluation, Braine L'Alleud, Belgium.
| | - Derek Leishman
- Drug Disposition, Toxicology and PKPD, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, 46285, USA.
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16
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Santana Filho PC, Brasil da Silva M, Malaquias da Silva BN, Fazolo T, Dorneles GP, Braun de Azeredo J, Alf da Rosa M, Rodrigues Júnior LC, Peres A, Santos Canto RF, Torres Romão PR. Seleno-indoles trigger reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis. Tetrahedron 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2023.133329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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17
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Makhene NL, Steyn H, Vorster M, Lubbe MS, Burger JR. Development of a checklist for the assessment of pharmacovigilance guidelines in Southern Africa: a document review. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2023; 14:20420986221143272. [PMID: 36713000 PMCID: PMC9880583 DOI: 10.1177/20420986221143272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction National regulatory systems in Southern Africa reflect various stages of maturity, and pharmacovigilance (PV) practices are not aligned. In the absence of guidance for formulating PV guidelines in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, this study aimed to create a checklist that may be used to assess the rigour of PV guidelines in this region and provide guidance for the National Medicines Regulatory Agency (NMRA) authors. Methods A document analysis was performed based on harmonised international guidelines (n = 22) that prescribed methods of PV regulation to identify themes and items to incorporate into a checklist. The contextualisation of the checklist to the African pharmaceutical environment was accomplished by referencing peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 7). The checklist was subjected to face and content validation by non-experts and PV experts. Results The document review yielded 5 themes, 18 sub-themes, and 73 items structured into the checklist. Themes encompassed PV systems, definitions, individual case safety reporting, aggregate reporting, and risk management. Under PV systems, aspects of the quality management system were outlined, that is, the legal basis for PV, a description of the marketing authorisation holder's (MAH's) PV system, archiving of data, contracting of PV tasks, and the duties of the person responsible for the MAH's PV obligations. Definitions of the key terms and major stakeholders were identified. Reporting of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) was explicated by considering the criteria for reporting, categories of reportable information, expedited reporting requirements, reporting timelines, and ICSR reporting format. Aggregate report submission during the development and post-marketing phases was addressed. Risk management encompassed signal detection, re-evaluation of the benefit-risk ratio, the safety decision-making process, risk management planning, risk minimisation and safety communication. Conclusion The developed checklist can contribute towards assisting SADC NMRAs to formulate national PV guidelines that reflect current international practice, with local context incorporated. Plain Language Summary Developing a checklist for the evaluation of medicine safety guidelines in Southern Africa Introduction: In Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, the guidelines for medicine safety [pharmacovigilance (PV)] that marketing authorisation holders (MAHs) and healthcare professionals need to adhere to, are not aligned. We saw the need to develop a checklist that can be used to evaluate these guidelines.Methods: We studied international documents issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). On the organisational websites, we obtained 22 documents and identified 73 checklist items. All the items were arranged under 5 themes and 18 sub-themes to create the checklist. We adapted the checklist to the local context by using seven journal articles addressing PV concerns in Africa. Experts checked the content and usability of the checklist.Results: The themes were PV systems, definitions, individual case safety reporting (ICSR), combined reporting and risk management. PV systems had six sub-themes: legal structure, description of the MAH's PV system, contractual agreements, information storage, the qualified person responsible for PV (QPPV) and where the QPPV is located. We included the definitions of keywords and role-players. The ICSR theme had five sub-themes, i.e. criteria for reporting, categories of reportable information, expedited reporting, reporting timelines, and reporting format. Submission of summary reports comprised an overview of the safety profile of a medicine once it is approved by regulators, as well as during clinical trials. Risk management included signal detection, re-evaluation of the benefit-risk ratio, safety decision-making process, risk management planning, risk minimisation, and safety communication. The checklist is applied by allocating yes/no scoring per item.Conclusion: The checklist may be used by regulators within SADC to assess their PV guidelines for alignment with international standards and suitability to the local environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nokuthula L. Makhene
- Medicine Usage in South Africa, Faculty of
Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Hanlie Steyn
- Medicine Usage in South Africa, Faculty of
Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Martine Vorster
- Medicine Usage in South Africa, Faculty of
Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Martie S. Lubbe
- Medicine Usage in South Africa, Faculty of
Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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18
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Pan Z, Liang P. Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Differentiation of Cardiomyocyte Subtypes for Drug Discovery and Cell Therapy. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:209-233. [PMID: 37421443 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Drug attrition rates have increased over the past few years, accompanied with growing costs for the pharmaceutical industry and consumers. Lack of in vitro models connecting the results of toxicity screening assays with clinical outcomes accounts for this high attrition rate. The emergence of cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells provides an amenable source of cells for disease modeling, drug discovery, and cardiotoxicity screening. Functionally similar to to embryonic stem cells, but with fewer ethical concerns, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can recapitulate patient-specific genetic backgrounds, which would be a huge revolution for personalized medicine. The generated iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) represent different subtypes including ventricular-, atrial-, and nodal-like cardiomyocytes. Purifying these subtypes for chamber-specific drug screening presents opportunities and challenges. In this chapter, we discuss the strategies for the purification of iPSC-CMs, the use of iPSC-CMs for drug discovery and cardiotoxicity test, and the current limitations of iPSC-CMs that should be overcome for wider and more precise cardiovascular applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Pan
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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19
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Theuretzbacher U, Baraldi E, Ciabuschi F, Callegari S. Challenges and shortcomings of antibacterial discovery projects. Clin Microbiol Infect 2022; 29:610-615. [PMID: 36503116 PMCID: PMC10160915 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antibacterial drug discovery activities are essential for filling clinical pipelines with promising clinical candidates. Little information is available about the challenges and shortcomings of small companies and academic institutions in performing these important discovery tasks. METHODS We performed a content analysis of 463 reviewer comments on 91 funding applications of antibacterial drug discovery projects submitted to two major global funders between 2016 and 2020 that had not proceeded further in the selection process. This quality assessment was complemented with the inputs (via e-mail) from a panel involving six antibiotic research and development (R&D) experts with long-standing expertise and experience in antibiotic drug discovery. RESULTS Common critical comments of reviewers are grouped into three main categories: scientific and technical shortcomings, unclear potential societal impact, and insufficient capability and expertise of the project team regarding the R&D process. Insufficient characterization of in vitro activity and/or testing of the hits/leads and insufficient antibacterial activity were the most common critical comments. Other areas of concern were insufficient or lack of differentiation from available drugs or projects with a long R&D history, and the research team's insufficient knowledge of a structured streamlined R&D process as reflected in severe gaps in the expertise of the R&D team. Little appreciation for the problem of the emergence of target-based resistance, especially in single-target approaches, and little awareness of toxicological issues, including approaches with historical liabilities were also commonly mentioned. The shortcomings identified through the analysis of funding applications are echoed by the results of the expert panel. DISCUSSION Our analysis identified an urgent need of strengthening the support for antibacterial drug discovery teams to help more projects reach such a quality to be eligible for global funders and private investors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Enrico Baraldi
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Simone Callegari
- Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Rana P, Khan S, Arat S, Potter D, Khan N. Nonclinical Safety Signals in PharmaPendium Improve the Predictability of Human Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:2133-2144. [PMID: 36287557 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of candidate attrition during drug development in the pharmaceutical industry. This study evaluated liver toxicity signals for 249 approved drugs (114 of "most-DILI concern" and 135 of "no-DILI concern") using PharmaPendium and assessed the association between nonclinical and clinical injuries using contingency table analysis. All animal liver findings were combined into eight toxicity categories based on nature and severity. Together, these analyses revealed that cholestasis [odds ratio (OR): 5.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-24.03] or liver aminotransferase increases (OR: 1.86; 95% CI 1.09-3.09) in rats and steatosis (OR-1.9; 95% CI 1.03-3.49) or liver aminotransferase increases (OR-2.57; 95% CI 1.4-4.7) in dogs were significant predictors of human liver injury. The predictive value further improved when the liver injury categories were combined into less severe (steatosis, cholestasis, liver aminotransferase increase, hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice) and more-severe (liver necrosis, acute liver failure, or hepatotoxicity) injuries. In particular, less-severe liver injuries in the following pairs of species predicted human hepatotoxicity {[dog and mouse] (OR: 2.70; 95% CI 1.25-5.84), [dog and rat] (OR-2.61; 95% CI 1.48-4.59), [monkey and mouse] (OR-4.22; 95% CI 1.33-13.32), and [monkey and rat] (OR-2.45; 95% CI 1.15-5.21)} were predictive of human hepatotoxicity. Meanwhile, severe liver injuries in both [dog and rat] (OR-1.9; 95% CI 1.04-3.49) were significant predictors of human liver toxicity. Therefore, we concluded that the occurrence of DILI in humans is highly likely if liver injuries are observed in one rodent and one nonrodent species and that liver aminotransferase increases in dogs and rats can predict DILI in humans. Together, these findings indicate that the liver safety signals observed in animal toxicity studies indicate potential DILI risk in humans and could therefore be used to prioritize small molecules with less potential to cause DILI in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Rana
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Sanaa Khan
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Seda Arat
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - David Potter
- Early Clinical Development Biostatistics, Pfizer, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nasir Khan
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
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21
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Pagare P, Obeng S, Huang B, Marcus MM, Nicholson KL, Townsend AE, Banks ML, Zhang Y. Preclinical Characterization and Development on NAQ as a Mu Opioid Receptor Partial Agonist for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:1197-1209. [PMID: 36407950 PMCID: PMC9667545 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Mu opioid receptor (MOR) selective antagonists and partial agonists have clinical utility for the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUDs). However, the development of many has suffered due to their poor pharmacokinetic properties and/or rapid metabolism. Our recent efforts to identify MOR modulators have provided 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-(isoquinoline-3-carboxamido)morphinan (NAQ), a low-efficacy partial agonist, that showed sub-nanomolar binding affinity to the MOR (K i 0.6 nM) with selectivity over the delta opioid receptor (δ/μ 241) and the kappa opioid receptor (κ/μ 48). Its potent inhibition of the analgesic effect of morphine (AD50 0.46 mg/kg) and precipitation of significantly less withdrawal symptoms even at 100-fold greater dose than naloxone represents a promising molecule for further development as a novel OUD therapeutic agent. Therefore, further in vitro and in vivo characterization of its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties was conducted to fully understand its pharmaceutical profile. NAQ showed favorable in vitro ADMET properties and no off-target binding to several classes of GPCRs, enzymes, and ion channels. Following intravenous administration, 1 mg/kg dose of NAQ showed a similar in vivo pharmacokinetic profile to naloxone; however, orally administered 10 mg/kg NAQ demonstrated significantly improved oral bioavailability over both naloxone and naltrexone. Abuse liability assessment of NAQ in rats demonstrated that NAQ functioned as a less potent reinforcer than heroin. Chronic 5 day NAQ pretreatment decreased heroin self-administration in a heroin-vs-food choice procedure similar to the clinically used MOR partial agonist buprenorphine. Taken together, these studies provide evidence supporting NAQ as a promising lead to develop novel OUD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyusha
P. Pagare
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia23298-0540, United States
| | - Samuel Obeng
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia23298-0540, United States
| | - Boshi Huang
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia23298-0540, United States
| | - Madison M. Marcus
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia
Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia23298-0613, United States
| | - Katherine L. Nicholson
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia
Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia23298-0613, United States
| | - Andrew E. Townsend
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia
Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia23298-0613, United States
| | - Matthew L. Banks
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia
Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia23298-0613, United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia23298-0540, United States
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22
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4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide acyclonucleoside phosphonates hybrids: human MCF-7 breast cancer cell death induction by oxidative stress-promoting and in silico ADMET studies. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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23
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de Leeuw VC, van Oostrom CTM, Wackers PFK, Pennings JLA, Hodemaekers HM, Piersma AH, Hessel EVS. Neuronal differentiation pathways and compound-induced developmental neurotoxicity in the human neural progenitor cell test (hNPT) revealed by RNA-seq. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 304:135298. [PMID: 35700809 PMCID: PMC9247748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
There is an increased awareness that the use of animals for compound-induced developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing has limitations. Animal-free innovations, especially the ones based on human stem cell-based models are pivotal in studying DNT since they can mimic processes relevant to human brain development. Here we present the human neural progenitor test (hNPT), a 10-day protocol in which neural progenitor cells differentiate into a neuron-astrocyte co-culture. The study aimed to characterise differentiation over time and to find neurodevelopmental processes sensitive to compound exposure using transcriptomics. 3992 genes regulated in unexposed control cultures (p ≤ 0.001, log2FC ≥ 1) showed Gene Ontology (GO-) term enrichment for neuronal and glial differentiation, neurite extension, synaptogenesis, and synaptic transmission. Exposure to known or suspected DNT compounds (acrylamide, chlorpyrifos, fluoxetine, methyl mercury, or valproic acid) at concentrations resulting in 95% cell viability each regulated unique combinations of GO-terms relating to neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal and glial differentiation, axon development, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and apoptosis. Investigation of the GO-terms 'neuron apoptotic process' and 'axon development' revealed common genes that were responsive across compounds, and might be used as biomarkers for DNT. The GO-term 'synaptic signalling', on the contrary, whilst also responsive to all compounds tested, showed little overlap in gene expression regulation patterns between the conditions. This GO-term may articulate compound-specific effects that may be relevant for revealing differences in mechanism of toxicity. Given its focus on neural progenitor cell to mature multilineage neuronal cell maturation and its detailed molecular readout based on gene expression analysis, hNPT might have added value as a tool for neurodevelopmental toxicity testing in vitro. Further assessment of DNT-specific biomarkers that represent these processes needs further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C de Leeuw
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Conny T M van Oostrom
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Paul F K Wackers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hennie M Hodemaekers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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24
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Functional human cell-based vascularised cardiac tissue model for biomedical research and testing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13459. [PMID: 35931748 PMCID: PMC9355975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are widely used in in vitro biomedical research and testing. However, fully matured, adult cardiomyocyte characteristics have not been achieved. To improve the maturity and physiological relevance of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, we co-cultured them with preconstructed vascular-like networks to form a functional, human cell-based cardiac tissue model. The morphology and gene expression profiles indicated advanced maturation in the cardiac tissue model compared to those of a cardiomyocyte monoculture. The cardiac tissue model’s functionality was confirmed by measuring the effects of 32 compounds with multielectrode array and comparing results to human data. Our model predicted the cardiac effects with a predictive accuracy of 91%, sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 100%. The correlation between the effective concentration (EC50) and the reported clinical plasma concentrations was 0.952 (R2 = 0.905). The developed advanced human cell-based cardiac tissue model showed characteristics and functionality of human cardiac tissue enabling accurate transferability of gained in vitro data to human settings. The model is standardized and thus, it would be highly useful in biomedical research and cardiotoxicity testing.
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25
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Parker JA, Fung ES, Trejo-Martin A, Liang L, Gibbs K, Bandara S, Chen S, Sandhu R, Bercu J, Maier A. The utility of hERG channel inhibition data in the derivation of occupational exposure limits. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 134:105224. [PMID: 35817210 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the human ether-à-go-go (hERG) channel may lead to QT prolongation and fatal arrhythmia. While pharmaceutical drug candidates that exhibit potent hERG channel inhibition often fail early in development, many drugs with both cardiac and non-cardiac indications proceed to market. In this study, the relationship between in vitro hERG channel inhibition and published occupational exposure limit (OEL) was evaluated. A total of 23 cardiac drugs and 44 drugs with non-cardiac indications with published hERG channel IC50 and published OELs were identified. There was an apparent relationship between hERG IC50 potency and the OEL for cardiac and non-cardiac drugs. Twenty cardiac and non-cardiac drugs were identified that had a potent hERG IC50 (≤25 μM) and a contrastingly large OEL value (≥100 μg/m3). OELs or hazard banding corresponding to ≤100 μg/m3 should be sufficiently protective of effects following occupational exposure to the majority of APIs with hERG IC50 values ≤ 100 μM. It is important to consider hERG IC50 values and possible cardiac effects when deriving OEL values for drugs, regardless of indication. These considerations may be particularly important early in the drug development process for establishing exposure control bands for drugs that do not yet have full clinical safety data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joel Bercu
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Nonclinical Safety and Pathobiology, Foster City, CA, USA
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26
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Koivisto M, Mosallaei M, Toimela T, Tuukkanen S, Heinonen T. Direct Contraction Force Measurements of Engineered Cardiac Tissue Constructs With Inotropic Drug Exposure. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:871569. [PMID: 35592423 PMCID: PMC9110810 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.871569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Contractility is one of the most crucial functions of the heart because it is directly related to the maintenance of blood perfusion throughout the body. Both increase and decrease in contractility may cause fatal consequences. Therefore, drug discovery would benefit greatly from reliable testing of candidate molecule effects on contractility capacity. In this study, we further developed a dual-axis piezoelectric force sensor together with our human cell–based vascularized cardiac tissue constructs for cardiac contraction force measurements. The capability to detect drug-induced inotropic effects was tested with a set of known positive and negative inotropic compounds of isoprenaline, milrinone, omecamtiv mecarbil, propranolol, or verapamil in different concentrations. Both positive and negative inotropic effects were measurable, showing that our cardiac contraction force measurement system including a piezoelectric cantilever sensor and a human cell–based cardiac tissue constructs has the potential to be used for testing of inotropic drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Koivisto
- FHAIVE (Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches), Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Milad Mosallaei
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Tarja Toimela
- FHAIVE (Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches), Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sampo Tuukkanen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Tuula Heinonen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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27
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Crofton KM, Bassan A, Behl M, Chushak YG, Fritsche E, Gearhart JM, Marty MS, Mumtaz M, Pavan M, Ruiz P, Sachana M, Selvam R, Shafer TJ, Stavitskaya L, Szabo DT, Szabo ST, Tice RR, Wilson D, Woolley D, Myatt GJ. Current status and future directions for a neurotoxicity hazard assessment framework that integrates in silico approaches. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 22:100223. [PMID: 35844258 PMCID: PMC9281386 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurotoxicology is the study of adverse effects on the structure or function of the developing or mature adult nervous system following exposure to chemical, biological, or physical agents. The development of more informative alternative methods to assess developmental (DNT) and adult (NT) neurotoxicity induced by xenobiotics is critically needed. The use of such alternative methods including in silico approaches that predict DNT or NT from chemical structure (e.g., statistical-based and expert rule-based systems) is ideally based on a comprehensive understanding of the relevant biological mechanisms. This paper discusses known mechanisms alongside the current state of the art in DNT/NT testing. In silico approaches available today that support the assessment of neurotoxicity based on knowledge of chemical structure are reviewed, and a conceptual framework for the integration of in silico methods with experimental information is presented. Establishing this framework is essential for the development of protocols, namely standardized approaches, to ensure that assessments of NT and DNT based on chemical structures are generated in a transparent, consistent, and defendable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Mamta Behl
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National
Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yaroslav G. Chushak
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental
Medicine & Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf,
Germany
| | - Jeffery M. Gearhart
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | | | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment
Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), 75775
Paris Cedex 16, France
| | - Rajamani Selvam
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Timothy J. Shafer
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center
for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC,
USA
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dan Wilson
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48667, USA
| | | | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Corresponding author.
(G.J. Myatt)
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28
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Gryshkova V, Lushbough I, Palmer J, Burrier R, Delaunois A, Donley E, Valentin JP. microRNAs signatures as potential biomarkers of structural cardiotoxicity in human-induced pluripotent stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2033-2047. [PMID: 35488128 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Identification of early biomarkers of heart injury and drug-induced cardiotoxicity is important to eliminate harmful drug candidates early in preclinical development and to prevent severe drug effects. The main objective of this study was to investigate the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human-induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) in response to a broad range of cardiotoxic drugs. Next generation sequencing was applied to hiPSC-CM treated for 72 h with 40 drugs falling into the categories of functional (i.e., ion channel blockers), structural (changes in cardiomyocytes structure), and general (causing both functional and structural) cardiotoxicants as well as non-cardiotoxic drugs. The largest changes in miRNAs expression were observed after treatments with structural or general cardiotoxicants. The number of deregulated miRNAs was the highest for idarubicin, mitoxantrone, and bortezomib treatments. RT-qPCR validation confirmed upregulation of several miRNAs across multiple treatments at therapeutically relevant concentrations: hsa-miR-187-3p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-182-5p (anthracyclines); hsa-miR-365a-5p, hsa-miR-185-3p, hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-182-5p (kinase inhibitors); hsa-miR-182-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p and hsa-miR-96-5p (common some anthracyclines, kinase inhibitors and bortezomib). Further investigations showed that an upregulation of hsa-miR-187-3p and hsa-miR-182-5p could serve as a potential biomarker of structural cardiotoxicity and/or an additional endpoint to characterize cardiac injury in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Lushbough
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Braine L'Alleud, Belgium
- Edinburgh Medical School, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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29
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Gauvin DV, Zimmermann ZJ, Dalton JA. De-risking in Tier I CNS safety assessments is the primary function of study design and technical training of laboratory staff observers. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 129:105116. [PMID: 35017023 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Derisking is not a pharmaceutical industry strategy to reduce time, effort, or costs in drug development. Derisking strategies originated within the National Institutes of Health as a predicate to good science. There is a growing sentiment within drug development programs to diminish the importance of behavioral measures in toxicological studies and in the Tiered Safety assessment plans of the U.S. Regulatory Agencies and the International Commission on Harmonization. The validity and reliability of the Functional Observational Batter (FOB) is critically dependent on consistency and technical quality in each risk assessment plan. US Federal and International drug approval organizations have universally adopted the concept of principles of test construction rather than delineating specific behavioral assay endpoints for inclusion of the FOB in nonclinical safety protocols. The validity and reliability of behavioral observations in standardized neurotoxicity screening is critically dependent on the FOB developed by the Study Director with the Sponsor throughout all stages of testing.. The individual risk factors selected for observation to be included in the early Tier 1 safety program should be determined by the mechanism and mode of action of the test article. The results of Tier I testing are the basis for Tier II testing designs. Critical to the compliance with Good Laboratory Practices is the documentation of training of the operational staff scheduled to conduct all aspects of the established protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V Gauvin
- Neurobehavioral Sciences, Charles River Laboratories, Mattawan, 49071, MI, USA.
| | | | - Jill A Dalton
- Neurobehavioral Sciences, Charles River Laboratories, Mattawan, 49071, MI, USA
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30
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Van Daele M, Cooper SL, Pannucci P, Wragg ES, March J, de Jong I, Woolard J. Monitoring haemodynamic changes in rodent models to better inform safety pharmacology: Novel insights from in vivo studies and waveform analysis. JRSM Cardiovasc Dis 2022; 11:20480040221092893. [PMID: 35646334 PMCID: PMC9133998 DOI: 10.1177/20480040221092893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models are essential for assessing cardiovascular responses to novel therapeutics. Cardiovascular safety liabilities represent a leading cause of drug attrition and better preclinical measurements are essential to predict drug-related toxicities. Presently, radiotelemetric approaches recording blood pressure are routinely used in preclinical in vivo haemodynamic assessments, providing valuable information on therapy-associated cardiovascular effects. Nonetheless, this technique is chiefly limited to the monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate alone. Alongside these measurements, Doppler flowmetry can provide additional information on the vasculature by simultaneously measuring changes in blood flow in multiple different regional vascular beds. However, due to the time-consuming and expensive nature of this approach, it is not widely used in the industry. Currently, analysis of waveform data obtained from telemetry and Doppler flowmetry typically examines averages or peak values of waveforms. Subtle changes in the morphology and variability of physiological waveforms have previously been shown to be early markers of toxicity and pathology. Therefore, a detailed analysis of pressure and flowmetry waveforms could enhance the understanding of toxicological mechanisms and the ability to translate these preclinical observations to clinical outcomes. In this review, we give an overview of the different approaches to monitor the effects of drugs on cardiovascular parameters (particularly regional blood flow, heart rate and blood pressure) and suggest that further development of waveform analysis could enhance our understanding of safety pharmacology, providing valuable information without increasing the number of in vivo studies needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Van Daele
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Samantha L Cooper
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Patrizia Pannucci
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Edward S Wragg
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Julie March
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Iwan de Jong
- Maastricht Instruments BV, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanette Woolard
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK
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31
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High-content analysis and Kinetic Image Cytometry identify toxicity and epigenetic effects of HIV antiretrovirals on human iPSC-neurons and primary neural precursor cells. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2022; 114:107157. [PMID: 35143957 PMCID: PMC9103414 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2022.107157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite viral suppression due to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) continue to affect half of people with HIV, suggesting that certain antiretrovirals (ARVs) may contribute to HAND. METHODS We examined the effects of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) and the integrase inhibitors dolutegravir (DTG) and elvitegravir (EVG) on viability, structure, and function of glutamatergic neurons (a subtype of CNS neuron involved in cognition) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-neurons), and primary human neural precursor cells (hNPCs), which are responsible for neurogenesis. RESULTS Using automated digital microscopy and image analysis (high content analysis, HCA), we found that DTG, EVG, and TDF decreased hiPSC-neuron viability, neurites, and synapses after 7 days of treatment. Analysis of hiPSC-neuron calcium activity using Kinetic Image Cytometry (KIC) demonstrated that DTG and EVG also decreased the frequency and magnitude of intracellular calcium transients. Longer ARV exposures and simultaneous exposure to multiple ARVs increased the magnitude of these neurotoxic effects. Using the Microscopic Imaging of Epigenetic Landscapes (MIEL) assay, we found that TDF decreased hNPC viability and changed the distribution of histone modifications that regulate chromatin packing, suggesting that TDF may reduce neuroprogenitor pools important for CNS development and maintenance of cognition in adults. CONCLUSION This study establishes human preclinical assays that can screen potential ARVs for CNS toxicity to develop safer cART regimens and HAND therapeutics.
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Liu J, Guo W, Sakkiah S, Ji Z, Yavas G, Zou W, Chen M, Tong W, Patterson TA, Hong H. Machine Learning Models for Predicting Liver Toxicity. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2425:393-415. [PMID: 35188640 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1960-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Liver toxicity is a major adverse drug reaction that accounts for drug failure in clinical trials and withdrawal from the market. Therefore, predicting potential liver toxicity at an early stage in drug discovery is crucial to reduce costs and the potential for drug failure. However, current in vivo animal toxicity testing is very expensive and time consuming. As an alternative approach, various machine learning models have been developed to predict potential liver toxicity in humans. This chapter reviews current advances in the development and application of machine learning models for prediction of potential liver toxicity in humans and discusses possible improvements to liver toxicity prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Wenjing Guo
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Sugunadevi Sakkiah
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Zuowei Ji
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Gokhan Yavas
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Wen Zou
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Minjun Chen
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Weida Tong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Tucker A Patterson
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Huixiao Hong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA.
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33
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Ellison C, Hewitt M, Przybylak K. In Silico Models for Hepatotoxicity. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2425:355-392. [PMID: 35188639 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1960-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we review the state of the art of predicting human hepatotoxicity using in silico techniques. There has been significant progress in this area over the past 20 years but there are still some challenges ahead. Principally, these challenges are our partial understanding of a very complex biochemical system and our ability to emulate that in a predictive capacity. Here, we provide an overview of the published modeling approaches in this area to date and discuss their design, strengths and weaknesses. It is interesting to note the diversity in modeling approaches, whether they be statistical algorithms or evidenced-based approaches including structural alerts and pharmacophore models. Irrespective of modeling approach, it appears a common theme of access to appropriate, relevant, and high-quality data is a limitation to all and is likely to continue to be the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Ellison
- Human and Natural Sciences Directorate, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Mark Hewitt
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
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34
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Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell as a Disease Modeling and Drug Development Platform-A Cardiac Perspective. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123483. [PMID: 34943991 PMCID: PMC8699880 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology and cellular responses to drugs in human heart disease is limited by species differences between humans and experimental animals. In addition, isolation of human cardiomyocytes (CMs) is complicated because cells obtained by biopsy do not proliferate to provide sufficient numbers of cells for preclinical studies in vitro. Interestingly, the discovery of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) has opened up the possibility of generating and studying heart disease in a culture dish. The combination of reprogramming and genome editing technologies to generate a broad spectrum of human heart diseases in vitro offers a great opportunity to elucidate gene function and mechanisms. However, to exploit the potential applications of hiPSC-derived-CMs for drug testing and studying adult-onset cardiac disease, a full functional characterization of maturation and metabolic traits is required. In this review, we focus on methods to reprogram somatic cells into hiPSC and the solutions for overcome immaturity of the hiPSC-derived-CMs to mimic the structure and physiological properties of the adult human CMs to accurately model disease and test drug safety. Finally, we discuss how to improve the culture, differentiation, and purification of CMs to obtain sufficient numbers of desired types of hiPSC-derived-CMs for disease modeling and drug development platform.
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35
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Any behavioral change may have physiological significance: Benign neglect in tier I neurotoxicity testing. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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36
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Bassan A, Alves VM, Amberg A, Anger LT, Auerbach S, Beilke L, Bender A, Cronin MT, Cross KP, Hsieh JH, Greene N, Kemper R, Kim MT, Mumtaz M, Noeske T, Pavan M, Pletz J, Russo DP, Sabnis Y, Schaefer M, Szabo DT, Valentin JP, Wichard J, Williams D, Woolley D, Zwickl C, Myatt GJ. In silico approaches in organ toxicity hazard assessment: current status and future needs in predicting liver toxicity. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 20:100187. [PMID: 35340402 PMCID: PMC8955833 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Hepatotoxicity is one of the most frequently observed adverse effects resulting from exposure to a xenobiotic. For example, in pharmaceutical research and development it is one of the major reasons for drug withdrawals, clinical failures, and discontinuation of drug candidates. The development of faster and cheaper methods to assess hepatotoxicity that are both more sustainable and more informative is critically needed. The biological mechanisms and processes underpinning hepatotoxicity are summarized and experimental approaches to support the prediction of hepatotoxicity are described, including toxicokinetic considerations. The paper describes the increasingly important role of in silico approaches and highlights challenges to the adoption of these methods including the lack of a commonly agreed upon protocol for performing such an assessment and the need for in silico solutions that take dose into consideration. A proposed framework for the integration of in silico and experimental information is provided along with a case study describing how computational methods have been used to successfully respond to a regulatory question concerning non-genotoxic impurities in chemically synthesized pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Vinicius M. Alves
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology, Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Alexander Amberg
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Scott Auerbach
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology, Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Lisa Beilke
- Toxicology Solutions Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Bender
- AI and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW
| | - Mark T.D. Cronin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | | | - Jui-Hua Hsieh
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology, Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Nigel Greene
- Data Science and AI, DSM, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Boston, USA
| | - Raymond Kemper
- Nuvalent, One Broadway, 14th floor, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Marlene T. Kim
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Office of the Associate Director for Science (OADS), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease, Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tobias Noeske
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Julia Pletz
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Daniel P. Russo
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
- The Rutgers Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
| | - Yogesh Sabnis
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest – B-1420 Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
| | - Markus Schaefer
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | | | - Joerg Wichard
- Bayer AG, Genetic Toxicology, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominic Williams
- Functional & Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, AstraZeneca, Darwin Building 310, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 0FZ, UK
| | - David Woolley
- ForthTox Limited, PO Box 13550, Linlithgow, EH49 7YU, UK
| | - Craig Zwickl
- Transendix LLC, 1407 Moores Manor, Indianapolis, IN 46229, USA
| | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, 1393 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215. USA
- Corresponding author. (G.J. Myatt)
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37
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Bassan A, Alves VM, Amberg A, Anger LT, Beilke L, Bender A, Bernal A, Cronin MT, Hsieh JH, Johnson C, Kemper R, Mumtaz M, Neilson L, Pavan M, Pointon A, Pletz J, Ruiz P, Russo DP, Sabnis Y, Sandhu R, Schaefer M, Stavitskaya L, Szabo DT, Valentin JP, Woolley D, Zwickl C, Myatt GJ. In silico approaches in organ toxicity hazard assessment: Current status and future needs for predicting heart, kidney and lung toxicities. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 20:100188. [PMID: 35721273 PMCID: PMC9205464 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The kidneys, heart and lungs are vital organ systems evaluated as part of acute or chronic toxicity assessments. New methodologies are being developed to predict these adverse effects based on in vitro and in silico approaches. This paper reviews the current state of the art in predicting these organ toxicities. It outlines the biological basis, processes and endpoints for kidney toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, respiratory irritation and sensitization as well as functional and structural cardiac toxicities. The review also covers current experimental approaches, including off-target panels from secondary pharmacology batteries. Current in silico approaches for prediction of these effects and mechanisms are described as well as obstacles to the use of in silico methods. Ultimately, a commonly accepted protocol for performing such assessment would be a valuable resource to expand the use of such approaches across different regulatory and industrial applications. However, a number of factors impede their widespread deployment including a lack of a comprehensive mechanistic understanding, limited in vitro testing approaches and limited in vivo databases suitable for modeling, a limited understanding of how to incorporate absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) considerations into the overall process, a lack of in silico models designed to predict a safe dose and an accepted framework for organizing the key characteristics of these organ toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Vinicius M. Alves
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Alexander Amberg
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lennart T. Anger
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
| | - Lisa Beilke
- Toxicology Solutions Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andreas Bender
- AI and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United States
| | | | - Mark T.D. Cronin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Jui-Hua Hsieh
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of the National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | | | - Raymond Kemper
- Nuvalent, One Broadway, 14th floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States
| | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Louise Neilson
- Broughton Nicotine Services, Oak Tree House, West Craven Drive, Earby, Lancashire BB18 6JZ UK
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Amy Pointon
- Functional and Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julia Pletz
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Daniel P. Russo
- The Rutgers Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Camden, NJ 08102, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, United States
| | - Yogesh Sabnis
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
| | - Reena Sandhu
- SafeDose Ltd., 20 Dundas Street West, Suite 921, Toronto, Ontario M5G2H1, Canada
| | - Markus Schaefer
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | | | - David Woolley
- ForthTox Limited, PO Box 13550, Linlithgow, EH49 7YU, UK
| | - Craig Zwickl
- Transendix LLC, 1407 Moores Manor, Indianapolis, IN 46229, United States
| | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, 1393 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215, United States
- Corresponding author: (G.J. Myatt)
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Wang Y, Wang B, Jiang J, Guo J, Lai J, Lian XY, Wu J. Multitask CapsNet: An Imbalanced Data Deep Learning Method for Predicting Toxicants. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:26545-26555. [PMID: 34661009 PMCID: PMC8515573 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Drug development has a high failure rate, with safety properties constituting a considerable challenge. To reduce risk, in silico tools, including various machine learning methods, have been applied for toxicity prediction. However, these approaches often confront a serious problem: the training data sets are usually biased (imbalanced positive and negative samples), which would result in model training difficulty and unsatisfactory prediction accuracy. Multitask networks obtained significantly better predictive accuracies than single-task methods, and capsule neural networks showed excellent performance in sparse data sets in previous studies. In this study, we developed a new multitask framework based on a capsule neural network (multitask CapsNet) to measure 12 different toxic effects simultaneously. We found that multitask CapsNet excelled in toxicity prediction and outperformed many other computational approaches using the multitask strategy. Only after training on biased data sets did multitask CapsNet achieve significantly improved prediction accuracy on the Tox21 Data Challenge, which gave the largest ratio of highest accuracy (8/12) among compared models. Our model gave a prediction accuracy of 96.6% for the target NR.PPAR.gamma, whose ratio of negative to positive samples was up to 36:1. These results suggested that multitask CapsNet could overcome the bias problems and would provide a novel, accurate, and efficient approach for predicting the toxicities of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Wang
- School
of Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical
University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Binyou Wang
- School
of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School
of Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical
University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jianmin Guo
- School
of Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical
University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jia Lai
- School
of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Lian
- School
of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310011, China
| | - Jianming Wu
- Key
Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education of
China, Medical Key Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Druggability
Evaluation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou Key
Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese
Materia Medica, Luzhou 646000, China
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Bowen TJ, Hall AR, Lloyd GR, Weber RJM, Wilson A, Pointon A, Viant MR. An Extensive Metabolomics Workflow to Discover Cardiotoxin-Induced Molecular Perturbations in Microtissues. Metabolites 2021; 11:644. [PMID: 34564460 PMCID: PMC8470535 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11090644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovering modes of action and predictive biomarkers of drug-induced structural cardiotoxicity offers the potential to improve cardiac safety assessment of lead compounds and enhance preclinical to clinical translation during drug development. Cardiac microtissues are a promising, physiologically relevant, in vitro model, each composed of ca. 500 cells. While untargeted metabolomics is capable of generating hypotheses on toxicological modes of action and discovering metabolic biomarkers, applying this technology to low-biomass microtissues in suspension is experimentally challenging. Thus, we first evaluated a filtration-based approach for harvesting microtissues and assessed the sensitivity and reproducibility of nanoelectrospray direct infusion mass spectrometry (nESI-DIMS) measurements of intracellular extracts, revealing samples consisting of 28 pooled microtissues, harvested by filtration, are suitable for profiling the intracellular metabolome and lipidome. Subsequently, an extensive workflow combining nESI-DIMS untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics of intracellular extracts with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis of spent culture medium, to profile the metabolic footprint and quantify drug exposure concentrations, was implemented. Using the synthetic drug and model cardiotoxin sunitinib, time-resolved metabolic and lipid perturbations in cardiac microtissues were investigated, providing valuable data for generating hypotheses on toxicological modes of action and identifying putative biomarkers such as disruption of purine metabolism and perturbation of polyunsaturated fatty acid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara J. Bowen
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (T.J.B.); (R.J.M.W.)
| | - Andrew R. Hall
- Functional and Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, UK; (A.R.H.); (A.P.)
| | - Gavin R. Lloyd
- Phenome Centre Birmingham, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Ralf J. M. Weber
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (T.J.B.); (R.J.M.W.)
- Phenome Centre Birmingham, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Amanda Wilson
- Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, UK;
| | - Amy Pointon
- Functional and Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, UK; (A.R.H.); (A.P.)
| | - Mark R. Viant
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (T.J.B.); (R.J.M.W.)
- Phenome Centre Birmingham, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
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40
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Larson EA, Accardi MV, Zhong Y, Paquette D, Authier S. Drug-Induced Seizures: Considerations for Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. Int J Toxicol 2021; 40:403-412. [PMID: 34514888 DOI: 10.1177/10915818211040483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A broad spectrum of chemical entities have been associated with drug-induced seizure (DIS), emphasizing the importance of this potential liability across various drug classes (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, and analgesics among others). Despite its importance within drug safety testing, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with DIS is often lacking. The etiology of DIS is understood to be a result of either a deficit in inhibitory (e.g., gamma aminobutyric acid) or an elevated excitatory (e.g., glutamate) signaling, leading to synchronous neuronal depolarization affecting various brain regions and impairing normal neurological functions. How this altered neuronal signaling occurs and how these changes interact with other non-brain receptor driven DIS-associated changes such as metabolic disturbances, electrolyte imbalances, altered drug metabolism, and withdrawal effects are poorly understood. Herein, we discuss important molecular mechanisms identified in DIS for several drugs and/or drug classes. With a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with DIS, in vivo or in vitro models may be applied to characterize and mitigate DIS risk during drug development. Susceptibility stratification for DIS presents species differences in the following order beagle dogs > rodents and cynomolgus monkeys > Göttingen minipigs with a more than 2-fold difference between canines and minipigs, which is important to consider during non-clinical species selection. While clinical signs such as myoclonus, severe muscle jerks, or convulsions are often associated with abnormal epileptiform EEG activity, tremors are most of the time physiological and rarely observed with concurrent epileptiform EEG activity which need to be considered during DIS risk evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yifei Zhong
- Charles River Laboratories, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Simon Authier
- Charles River Laboratories, Laval, Quebec, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
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Chi LH, Burrows AD, Anderson RL. Can preclinical drug development help to predict adverse events in clinical trials? Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:257-268. [PMID: 34469805 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel therapeutics is associated with high rates of attrition, with unexpected adverse events being a major cause of failure. Serious adverse events have led to organ failure, cancer development and deaths that were not expected outcomes in clinical trials. These life-threatening events were not identified during therapeutic development due to the lack of preclinical safety tests that faithfully represented human physiology. We highlight the successful application of several novel technologies, including high-throughput screening, organs-on-chips, microbiome-containing drug-testing platforms and humanised mouse models, for mechanistic studies and prediction of toxicity. We propose the incorporation of similar preclinical tests into future drug development to reduce the likelihood of hazardous therapeutics entering later-stage clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lap Hing Chi
- Translational Breast Cancer Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Allan D Burrows
- Translational Breast Cancer Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin L Anderson
- Translational Breast Cancer Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Grafton F, Ho J, Ranjbarvaziri S, Farshidfar F, Budan A, Steltzer S, Maddah M, Loewke KE, Green K, Patel S, Hoey T, Mandegar MA. Deep learning detects cardiotoxicity in a high-content screen with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. eLife 2021; 10:68714. [PMID: 34338636 PMCID: PMC8367386 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity are major causes of drug attrition. To decrease late-stage drug attrition, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries need to establish biologically relevant models that use phenotypic screening to detect drug-induced toxicity in vitro. In this study, we sought to rapidly detect patterns of cardiotoxicity using high-content image analysis with deep learning and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). We screened a library of 1280 bioactive compounds and identified those with potential cardiotoxic liabilities in iPSC-CMs using a single-parameter score based on deep learning. Compounds demonstrating cardiotoxicity in iPSC-CMs included DNA intercalators, ion channel blockers, epidermal growth factor receptor, cyclin-dependent kinase, and multi-kinase inhibitors. We also screened a diverse library of molecules with unknown targets and identified chemical frameworks that show cardiotoxic signal in iPSC-CMs. By using this screening approach during target discovery and lead optimization, we can de-risk early-stage drug discovery. We show that the broad applicability of combining deep learning with iPSC technology is an effective way to interrogate cellular phenotypes and identify drugs that may protect against diseased phenotypes and deleterious mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn Ho
- Tenaya Therapeutics, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Sara Ranjbarvaziri
- Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Snahel Patel
- Tenaya Therapeutics, South San Francisco, United States
| | - Tim Hoey
- Tenaya Therapeutics, South San Francisco, United States
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Differences in P-glycoprotein activity in human and rodent blood-brain barrier assessed by mechanistic modelling. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:3015-3029. [PMID: 34268580 PMCID: PMC8380243 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03115-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Variation in the efficacy and safety of central nervous system drugs between humans and rodents can be explained by physiological differences between species. An important factor could be P-glycoprotein (Pgp) activity in the blood–brain barrier (BBB), as BBB expression of this drug efflux transporter is reportedly lower in humans compared to mouse and rat and subject to an age-dependent increase. This might complicate animal to human extrapolation of brain drug disposition and toxicity, especially in children. In this study, the potential species-specific effect of BBB Pgp activity on brain drug exposure was investigated. An age-dependent brain PBPK model was used to predict cerebrospinal fluid and brain mass concentrations of Pgp substrate drugs. For digoxin, verapamil and quinidine, in vitro kinetic data on their transport by Pgp were derived from literature and used to scale to in vivo parameters. In addition, age-specific digoxin transport was simulated for children with a postnatal age between 25 and 81 days. BBB Pgp activity in the model was optimized using measured CSF data for the Pgp substrates ivermectin, indinavir, vincristine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, olanzapine and citalopram, as no useful in vitro data were available. Inclusion of Pgp activity in the model resulted in optimized predictions of their brain concentration. Total brain-to-plasma AUC values (Kp,brain) in the simulations without Pgp were divided by the Kp,brain values with Pgp. Kp ratios ranged from 1 to 45 for the substrates investigated. Comparison of human with rodent Kp,brain ratios indicated ≥ twofold lower values in human for digoxin, verapamil, indinavir, paclitaxel and citalopram and ≥ twofold higher values for vincristine. In conclusion, BBB Pgp activity appears species-specific. An age-dependent PBPK model-based approach could be useful to extrapolate animal data to human adult and paediatric predictions by taking into account species-specific and developmental BBB Pgp expression.
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44
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Palmer JA, Smith AM, Gryshkova V, Donley ELR, Valentin JP, Burrier RE. A Targeted Metabolomics-Based Assay Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Identifies Structural and Functional Cardiotoxicity Potential. Toxicol Sci 2021; 174:218-240. [PMID: 32040181 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementing screening assays that identify functional and structural cardiotoxicity earlier in the drug development pipeline has the potential to improve safety and decrease the cost and time required to bring new drugs to market. In this study, a metabolic biomarker-based assay was developed that predicts the cardiotoxicity potential of a drug based on changes in the metabolism and viability of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM). Assay development and testing was conducted in 2 phases: (1) biomarker identification and (2) targeted assay development. In the first phase, metabolomic data from hiPSC-CM spent media following exposure to 66 drugs were used to identify biomarkers that identified both functional and structural cardiotoxicants. Four metabolites that represent different metabolic pathways (arachidonic acid, lactic acid, 2'-deoxycytidine, and thymidine) were identified as indicators of cardiotoxicity. In phase 2, a targeted, exposure-based biomarker assay was developed that measured these metabolites and hiPSC-CM viability across an 8-point concentration curve. Metabolite-specific predictive thresholds for identifying the cardiotoxicity potential of a drug were established and optimized for balanced accuracy or sensitivity. When predictive thresholds were optimized for balanced accuracy, the assay predicted the cardiotoxicity potential of 81 drugs with 86% balanced accuracy, 83% sensitivity, and 90% specificity. Alternatively, optimizing the thresholds for sensitivity yields a balanced accuracy of 85%, 90% sensitivity, and 79% specificity. This new hiPSC-CM-based assay provides a paradigm that can identify structural and functional cardiotoxic drugs that could be used in conjunction with other endpoints to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of a drug's cardiotoxicity potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan M Smith
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Vitalina Gryshkova
- UCB Biopharma SPRL, Investigative Toxicology, Development Science, B-1420 Braine L'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB Biopharma SPRL, Investigative Toxicology, Development Science, B-1420 Braine L'Alleud, Belgium
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45
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Dixit VA, Singh P. A property-response perspective on modern toxicity assessment and drug toxicity index (DTI). In Silico Pharmacol 2021; 9:37. [PMID: 34017677 PMCID: PMC8124026 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-021-00096-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxicity related failures in drug discovery and clinical development have motivated scientists and regulators to develop a wide range of in-vitro, in-silico tools coupled with data science methods. Older drug discovery rules are being constantly modified to churn out any hidden predictive value. Nonetheless, the dose-response concepts remain central to all these methods. Over the last 2 decades medicinal chemists, and pharmacologists have observed that different physicochemical, and pharmacological properties capture trends in toxic responses. We propose that these observations should be viewed in a comprehensive property-response framework where dose is only a factor that modifies the inherent toxicity potential. We then introduce the recently proposed "Drug Toxicity Index (DTI)" and briefly summarize its applications. A webserver is available to calculate DTI values (https://all-tool-kit.github.io/Web-Tool.html).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav A. Dixit
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences Pilani (BITS Pilani), Vidya Vihar Campus, Street number 41, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031 India
| | - Pragati Singh
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences Pilani (BITS Pilani), Vidya Vihar Campus, Street number 41, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031 India
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46
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Whittaker DG, Capel RA, Hendrix M, Chan XHS, Herring N, White NJ, Mirams GR, Burton RAB. Cardiac TdP risk stratification modelling of anti-infective compounds including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210235. [PMID: 33996135 PMCID: PMC8059594 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the hydroxyl derivative of chloroquine (CQ), is widely used in the treatment of rheumatological conditions (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis) and is being studied for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Here, we investigate through mathematical modelling the safety profile of HCQ, CQ and other QT-prolonging anti-infective agents to determine their risk categories for Torsade de Pointes (TdP) arrhythmia. We performed safety modelling with uncertainty quantification using a risk classifier based on the qNet torsade metric score, a measure of the net charge carried by major currents during the action potential under inhibition of multiple ion channels by a compound. Modelling results for HCQ at a maximum free therapeutic plasma concentration (free C max) of approximately 1.2 µM (malaria dosing) indicated it is most likely to be in the high-intermediate-risk category for TdP, whereas CQ at a free C max of approximately 0.7 µM was predicted to most likely lie in the intermediate-risk category. Combining HCQ with the antibacterial moxifloxacin or the anti-malarial halofantrine (HAL) increased the degree of human ventricular action potential duration prolongation at some or all concentrations investigated, and was predicted to increase risk compared to HCQ alone. The combination of HCQ/HAL was predicted to be the riskiest for the free C max values investigated, whereas azithromycin administered individually was predicted to pose the lowest risk. Our simulation approach highlights that the torsadogenic potentials of HCQ, CQ and other QT-prolonging anti-infectives used in COVID-19 prevention and treatment increase with concentration and in combination with other QT-prolonging drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic G. Whittaker
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Maurice Hendrix
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Digital Research Service, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Xin Hui S. Chan
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Neil Herring
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas J. White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gary R. Mirams
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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47
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Tu C, Cunningham NJ, Zhang M, Wu JC. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Screening Platform for Drug-Induced Vascular Toxicity. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:613837. [PMID: 33790786 PMCID: PMC8006367 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.613837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of potential vascular injury is an essential part of the safety study during pharmaceutical development. Vascular liability issues are important causes of drug termination during preclinical investigations. Currently, preclinical assessment of vascular toxicity primarily relies on the use of animal models. However, accumulating evidence indicates a significant discrepancy between animal toxicity and human toxicity, casting doubt on the clinical relevance of animal models for such safety studies. While the causes of this discrepancy are expected to be multifactorial, species differences are likely a key factor. Consequently, a human-based model is a desirable solution to this problem, which has been made possible by the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In particular, recent advances in the field now allow the efficient generation of a variety of vascular cells (e.g., endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes) from iPSCs. Using these cells, different vascular models have been established, ranging from simple 2D cultures to highly sophisticated vascular organoids and microfluidic devices. Toxicity testing using these models can recapitulate key aspects of vascular pathology on molecular (e.g., secretion of proinflammatory cytokines), cellular (e.g., cell apoptosis), and in some cases, tissue (e.g., endothelium barrier dysfunction) levels. These encouraging data provide the rationale for continuing efforts in the exploration, optimization, and validation of the iPSC technology in vascular toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyi Tu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Nathan J Cunningham
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Mao Zhang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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48
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Barber J, Sikakana P, Sadler C, Baud D, Valentin JP, Roberts R. A target safety assessment of the potential toxicological risks of targeting plasmepsin IX/X for the treatment of malaria. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:203-213. [PMID: 33884171 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aspartic proteases plasmepsin IX/X are important antimalarial drug targets due to their specificity to the malaria parasite and their vital role as mediators of disease progression. Focusing on parasite-specific targets where no human homologue exists reduces the possibility of on-target drug toxicity. However, there is a risk of toxicity driven by inadequate selectivity for plasmepsins IX/X in Plasmodium over related mammalian aspartic proteases. Of these, CatD/E may be of most toxicological relevance as CatD is a ubiquitous lysosomal enzyme present in most cell types and CatE is found in the gut and in erythrocytes, the clinically significant site of malarial infection. Based on mammalian aspartic protease physiology and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to FDA-approved human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) aspartic protease inhibitors, we predicted several potential toxicities including β-cell and congenital abnormalities, hypotension, hypopigmentation, hyperlipidaemia, increased infection risk and respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, dermatological, and other epithelial tissue toxicities. These ADRs to the HIV treatments are likely to be a result of host aspartic protease inhibition due a lack of specificity for the HIV protease; plasmepsins are much more closely related to human CatD than to HIV proteinase. Plasmepsin IX/X inhibition presents an opportunity to specifically target Plasmodium as an effective antimalarial treatment, providing adequate selectivity can be obtained. Potential plasmepsin IX/X inhibitors should be assayed for inhibitory activity against the main human aspartic proteases and particularly CatD/E. An investigative rodent study conducted early in drug discovery would serve as an initial risk assessment of the potential hazards identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Barber
- ApconiX, Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, SK10 4TG, UK
| | | | | | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Building R9, Chemin du Foriest, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Ruth Roberts
- ApconiX, Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, SK10 4TG, UK
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49
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Benn CL, Gibson KR, Reynolds DS. Drugging DNA Damage Repair Pathways for Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases. J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 10:203-220. [PMID: 32925081 PMCID: PMC7990437 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-200421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
DNA damage repair (DDR) mechanisms have been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative diseases (both genetically determined and sporadic). Consistent with this, recent genome-wide association studies in Huntington’s disease (HD) and other trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases have highlighted genes involved in DDR mechanisms as modifiers for age of onset, rate of progression and somatic instability. At least some clinical genetic modifiers have been shown to have a role in modulating trinucleotide repeat expansion biology and could therefore provide new disease-modifying therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on key considerations with respect to drug discovery and development using DDR mechanisms as a target for trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases. Six areas are covered with specific reference to DDR and HD: 1) Target identification and validation; 2) Candidate selection including therapeutic modality and delivery; 3) Target drug exposure with particular focus on blood-brain barrier penetration, engagement and expression of pharmacology; 4) Safety; 5) Preclinical models as predictors of therapeutic efficacy; 6) Clinical outcome measures including biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline L Benn
- LoQus23 Therapeutics, Riverside, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Karl R Gibson
- Sandexis Medicinal Chemistry Ltd, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, UK
| | - David S Reynolds
- LoQus23 Therapeutics, Riverside, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
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50
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Roberts R, Authier S, Mellon RD, Morton M, Suzuki I, Tjalkens RB, Valentin JP, Pierson JB. Can We Panelize Seizure? Toxicol Sci 2021; 179:3-13. [PMID: 33165543 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seizure liability remains a significant cause of attrition in drug discovery and development, leading to loss of competitiveness, delays, and increased costs. Current detection methods rely on observations made in in vivo studies intended to support clinical trials, such as tremors or other abnormal movements. These signs could be missed or misinterpreted; thus, definitive confirmation of drug-induced seizure requires a follow-up electroencephalogram study. There has been progress in in vivo detection of seizure using automated video systems that record and analyze animal movements. Nonetheless, it would be preferable to have earlier prediction of seizurogenic risk that could be used to eliminate liabilities early in discovery while there are options for medicinal chemists making potential new drugs. Attrition due to cardiac adverse events has benefited from routine early screening; could we reduce attrition due to seizure using a similar approach? Specifically, microelectrode arrays could be used to detect potential seizurogenic signals in stem-cell-derived neurons. In addition, there is clear evidence implicating neuronal voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels, GPCRs and transporters in seizure. Interactions with surrounding glial cells during states of stress or inflammation can also modulate ion channel function in neurons, adding to the challenge of seizure prediction. It is timely to evaluate the opportunity to develop an in vitro assessment of seizure linked to a panel of ion channel assays that predict seizure, with the aim of influencing structure-activity relationship at the design stage and eliminating compounds predicted to be associated with pro-seizurogenic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Roberts
- ApconiX, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG, UK.,University of Birmingham, B15 2SD, UK
| | | | - R Daniel Mellon
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | | | - Ikuro Suzuki
- Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Ronald B Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
| | - Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB Biopharma SRL, Early Solutions, Development Science, Investigative Toxicology, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Jennifer B Pierson
- Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, District of Columbia 20005
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