Human absorption prediction

These considerations are valid for the rat as experimental model. Because the majority of the intestinal absorption processes in rats and in humans seem similar, it may be feasible to use, with minor modifications (i.e. T value), the in situ ka data to make human absorption predictions. 

The strategy of the preceding sections was based on predicting the permeabilities of drug compounds in the human jejunum. The rest of the intestinal tract has higher pH, and this needs to be factored in when considering models to predict not human permeabilities, but human absorption (see Fig. 2.3 and Table 7.2). 

In conclusion, the double-sink su m-P, PAMPA in vitro GIT assay seems to predict human absorption as well as in vivo human permeability measurements (see Figs. 7.66a,b) and in vitro Caco-2 permeability measurements (see Figs. 7.60 and 7.63), but at a lower cost and higher speed. 

In the first example, the predicted oral absorption for a series of ACE inhibitors has been compared with published values of human bioavailability. For the generation of calculated absorption, a sigmoidal curve between observed human absorption and PSA for a series of reference compounds was used [25], The predicted oral absorption for ACE inhibitors is plotted against the calculated PSA values is shown in Fig. 19.6 however, as expected, only a partial correlation existed between predicted absorption and observed in vivo bioavailability. 

Fig. 19.8. Prediction of human bioavailability from calculated human absorption using polar surface area (PSA) for a series of calcium antagonists [25],...

In a second approach, Sugano et al. [138] tried to consider paracellular transport in addition to transcellular permeation. The prediction of the paracellular transport potential was based on size and charge parameters together with artificial membrane permeability in relation to known human absorption values. Other groups have focused on the paracellular route by modification of the assay [26],... 

As described elsewhere in this book, there are several single parameter in vitro models that are often used to predict human absorption properties. Caco-2 cell monolayers have widespread use within the pharmaceutical industry... 

The suitability and general applicability of an artificial membrane and PAMPA in vitro permeation methods were evaluated for their ability to predict drug absorption potential in comparison to Caco-2 cell literature data [57], A linear correlation (R2 = 0.957) was obtained between artificial membrane Papp and human absorption data, indicating the good predictive ability of the proposed method for HP compounds with greater differentiation of drugs with /a below 50% [57],... 

Different formulation principles, dosage forms, and DDSs are commonly evaluated in animal models, and attempts are made to predict human absorption on the basis of such studies.80 Human studies are also conducted in some cases to confirm predictions from animal models. Chiou et a 1.81,82 demonstrated that there is a highly significant correlation of absorption (r2 = 0.97) between humans and rats with a slope near unity. In comparison, the correlation of absorption between dog and human was poor (r2 = 0.512) as compared to that between rat and human (r2 = 0.97). Therefore, although dog has been commonly employed as an animal model for studying oral absorption in drug discovery and development, one may need to exercise caution in the interpretation of data obtained. 

GastroPlus [137] and IDEA [138] are absorption-simulation models based on in vitro input data like solubility, Caco-2 permeability and others. They are based on advanced compartmental absorption and transit (ACAT) models in which physicochemical concepts are incorporated. Both approaches were recently compared and are shown to be suitable to predict the rate and extent of human absorption [139]. 

This section will provide an overview on ADME models from our group to illustrate our approach for building predictive models on structurally diverse training sets. Datasets for intestinal human absorption and human serum albumin binding are discussed, while models for other relevant ADME properties have also been obtained. Those models, however, do not stand alone but are used in combination with those models tailored for affinity and selectivity in the frame of multidimensional lead optimization. 

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE METHOD VolSurf descriptors are able to predict absorption for a diverse set of drugs. The presented model is derived using a consistent frame of relevant chemically interpretable descriptors, which find applications in different local and general models. However, absorption is not only controlled by passive membrane permeability. There are other factors influencing in vivo human absorption namely the in vivo dissolution rate in small intestinal fluid and the dose used for the human study. Furthermore, active transport or efflux mechanisms are difficult to rule out but can only be partially monitored by in vitro experiments. These important pieces of information should be known before any QSAR analysis is attempted on human absorption. This lack of consistent information throughout the literature is difficult to overcome, in particular for human studies. Hence, this study for the dataset from Zhao et al. (2001) provides a reasonable attempt to address these problems to carefully selecting members of the final dataset. 

PAMPA-biomimetic-Caco-2-comparison Several in vitro assays have been developed to evaluate the Gl absorption of compounds. Our aim was to compare three of these methods (/) the BAMPA method, which offers a HT, noncellular approach to the measurement of passive transport ( ) the traditional Caco-2 cell assay, the use of which as a HT tool is limited by the long cell differentiation time (21 days) and (// ) The BioCoat HTS Caco-2 assay system, which reduces Caco-2 cell differentiation to three days. The transport of known compounds (such as cephalexin, propranolol, or chlorothiazide) was studied at pH 7.4 and 6.5 in BAMPA and both Caco-2 cell models. Permeability data obtained was correlated to known values of human absorption. Best correlations (f= 0.9) were obtained at pH 6.5 for BAMPA and at pH 7.4 for the Caco-2 cells grown for 21 days. The Caco-2 BioCoat HTS Caco-2 assay system does not seem to be adequate for the prediction of absorption. The overall results indicate that BAMPA and the 21 -day Caco-2 system can be complementary for an accurate prediction of human intestinal absorption. 

A number of in vitro systems to model absorption have been developed and have gained widespread use through their successful prediction of human absorption. These include the Caco-2 cell monolayer model, Ussing chambers... 

No model can predict human absorption 100% of the time, but Caco-2 has a relatively good track record for at least binning compounds. Along with the early information advanced Caco-2 studies can provide information on transport mechanism, gut wall metabolism and toxicity, and its utility in establishing structure property relationships, this makes it a valuable addition to the armamentarium of drug discovery. 

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