In the Pipeline | Derek Lowe

Idiosyncratic Tox

By Derek Lowe

Idiosyncratic toxicities are here, being described as a product of the gaps in our understanding of the human body and the processes that take place within it. Such toxicities, however, are one of the two major causes of failure in clinical trials. Derek Lowe uses the example of torsade de pointes to demonstrate that until the discovery of the hERG ion channel, such clinical manifestations would have been the failure of several drugs in trial without any reasoning for the presence of this toxicity. As a result of the discovery of hERG, pre-clinical screening of the channel is standard. Could this be the case for all idiosyncratic toxicities?

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Molecular Cancer Research

Antibody–Drug Conjugates: A Comprehensive Review

By Puregmaa Kongorzul et al

In the field of cancer research, there is regular new data released indicating a new mutation or mechanism of action. There is hence a great need for regular developments in treatment options. Drug anti-body conjugates are among the fastest growing treatment options as several have now achieved safety approval from the FDA. Although careful design and extensive knowledge of the mechanistic pathway is required to achieve successful treatment and efficiency but also to improve efficacy and safety profile.

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Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection

Treatment options for COVID-19: The reality and challenges

By Shio-Shin Jean et al

The current global pandemic incurred through rapid transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is slowly beginning to ease as the rate of infection slows across the world. Control of a possible second peak is reliant on the development of a vaccine as well as treatment options. As several treatments are compared here by Shio-Shin et al to investigate effectiveness against COVID-19. Particular interest is being directed towards RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors such as the antiviral, Remdesivir and protease inhibitors such as Lopinavir. Click below to download the open access paper PDF.

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Pharmacological Research

Drugs and Hepatic Transporters: A Review

By Alexander Jetter et al

Xenobiotic drugs are metabolically degraded and eliminated through the hepatic system. Uptake, degrasdation and elimination of drugs is mediated through a series of transport proteins. Transporters are regularly targeted in drug interactions as well as endogenous hormones and chemicals. Hence, several diseases occur due to alterations in function of these endogenous compounds by causing damage to the hepatocytes. Understanding the mechanisms of these reactions can help to reduce harmful drug interactions.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Safety Testing of Drug Metabolites

By The FDA

Updated guidance for industry released by the FDA evaluates the need to identify and characterise drug metabolites in order to assess the safety and toxicity in a non-clinical setting. The guidance applies specifically to small molecule nonbiologic drugs, where animal safety assessments are not typically compared in a cross-species safety assessment. Hence the understanding of the toxicity of the drug in humans is relatively unknown as the drug may become chemically reactive in phase 1 of metabolism.  Click below to download a PDF of the guidance document.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Q3C(R8) Recommendations for the Permitted Daily Exposures for Three Solvents—2-Methyltetrahydrofuran, Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether, and Tert-Butyl Alcohol—According to the Maintenance Procedures for the Guidance Q3C Impurities: Residual Solvents

By The FDA

The FDA provides new guidance and recommendations on the use of three different solvents which we may be exposed to daily. An accumulation data gathered allows for a detailed examination of  genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reprotoxicity and repeated dose toxicity from the solvents to hence assess the safety and risk associated with daily exposure.

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European Pharmaceutical Review

Global COVID-19 hydroxychloroquine trial paused over safety concerns

By Hannah Balfour

The World Health organisation have paused trails of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the recent COVID-19 pandemic, due to data from one trial indicating that it in fact increases risk of death. The FDA also indicated risks of heart problems and poisoning.

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