ADME adsorption, distribution processes

The partition coefficient and aqueous solubility are properties important for the study of the adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME-Tox) of drugs. The prediction of the ADME-Tox properties of drug candidates has recently attracted much interest because these properties account for the failure of about 60 % of all drug candidates in the clinical phases. The prediction of these properties in an early phase of the drug development process could therefore lead to significant savings in research and development costs. 

Fig. 3.1 Stairway to drug discovery. The drug discovery process as modeled here is not necessarily a linear process. Novel potential biopharmaceuticals (e.g., siRNAs) used in early steps of target identification and validation can, in principle, skip the next steps and be tested directly in ADME/tox-icity studies (see Part VI11, Chapter 4). ADM E, Adsorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion HTS, high-throughput screening.

Since drug delivery is the process by which a drug leaves a drug product and is subjected to adsorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), eventually becoming available for pharmacological action hence drug release is described in several ways as follows. 

---