Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development

Book excerpt: The topics chosen for this volume were selected because they are some of the current development or technological issues facing drug development project teams. They regard the practical considerations for assessment of selected special development populations. For example, they include characterization of drug disposition in pregnant subjects, for measuring arrhythmic potential, for analysis tumor growth modeling, and for disease progression modeling. Practical considerations for metabolite safety testing, transporter assessments, Phase 0 testing, and development and execution of drug interaction programs reflect current regulatory topics meant to address enhancement of both safety assessment and early decision-making during new candidate selection. Important technologies like whole body autoradiography, digital imaging and dried blood spot sample collection methods are introduced, as both have begun to take a more visible role in pharmacokinetic departments throughout the industry.