Chronic toxicity studies nonrodents

Repeated dose chronic toxicity studies are performed on two species of animals a rodent and nonrodent. The aim is to evaluate the longer-term effects of the drug in animals. Plasma drug concentrations are measured and pharmacokinetics analyses are performed. Vital functions are studied for cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. Animals are retained at the end of the study to check toxicity recovery. Table 5.2 shows the duration of the animal studies, which depends on the duration of the intended human clinical trial. Appendix 6 summarizes the information to be submitted to regulatory authorities. 

Chronic Toxicity. Traditionally, chronic toxicity of new pharmaceuticals in the United States was assessed in studies of one-year duration in both the rodent and the nonrodent species of choice. The European view was that studies of six months are generally sufficient. The resulting guideline (S4A) was a compromise. Studies of six months duration were recommended for the rodent, as rodents would also be examined in two-year studies. For the nonrodent (dog, nonhuman primate, and pig) studies of nine months duration were recommended. 

Chronic and subchronic toxicity studies are conducted to define the dose level, when given repeatedly, that cause toxicity, and the dose level that does not lead to toxic findings. In Japan, such studies are referred to as repeated-dose toxicity studies. As with single-dose studies, at least two animal species should be used, one rodent and one nonrodent (rabbit not acceptable). In rodent studies, each group should consist of at least 10 males and 10 females in nonrodent species, 3 of each sex are deemed adequate. Where interim examinations are planned, however, the numbers of animals employed should be increased accordingly. The planned route of administration in human subjects is normally explored. The duration of the study will be dictated by the planned duration of clinical use (Table 2.14). 

Common Study Protocols. The dog is the most commonly used nonrodent species in safety assessment testing (i.e., acute, subchronic, and chronic studies). The exception to this is its use in developmental toxicity and reproductive studies. For developmental toxicity studies, the dog does not appear to be as sensitive an indicator of teratogens as other nonrodent species such as the monkey (Earl et al., 1973) or the ferret (Gulamhusein et al., 1980), and, for reproductive studies, the dog is not the species of choice because fertility testing is difficult to conduct (due to prolonged anestrus and the unpredictability of the onset of proestrus) and there is no reliable procedure for induction of estrus or ovulation. 

IPEC-US (intended clinical route)a Acute oral and dermal toxicity, skin and eye irritation, and skin sensitization. Bacterial gene mutation and chromosome damage. ADME (intended route). 28-day toxicity (2 species by intended clinical route) Short-term use studies. 90-day toxicity (most appropriate species). Teratology (rat and/or rabbit). Genotoxicity assays. Additional assays (conditional) 1 Short-/midterm studies. One-generation reproduction. Chronic toxicity (rodent and nonrodent) and carcinogenicity (conditional)... 

Such a dichotomy cannot be resolved in a generic manner. Although it may be advisable that chronic effect results be obtained from both a rodent and nonrodent, the selection of appropriate species for chronic toxicity tests should be based upon practical reasons and the results of previously conducted studies. In some cases, testing with a single species may provide sufficient data for assessing test chemical hazards. Strains of test animals should be well characterized for commonly found diseases and their resistance, and should be free from congenital defects. 

Preclinical toxicology studies should address the standard systemic and local reactogenicity, histopathology, and toxicity (acute and chronic dosage) in rodent and nonrodent animals. Since the FDA and some European authorities decided to classify mRNA-based therapies as no-gene therapy (for nonreplicative mRNA as depicted in this chapter), the implementation of clinical trials does not require additional specific toxicology testing. 

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