Microdosing Phase 0
Sub-pharmacological human microdosing studies (Phase 0) provide accurate predictive human PK/ADME data (compared to allometry) for many new drug candidates, i.e. the best model of human is human. This data de-risks the best candidates to succeed in Phase I clinical development. Microdosing is also useful to assess absorption and systemic exposure, such as skin and lung.
In Phase 0 clinical designs, we recommend that the microdose is given both oral and IV in a cross-over design, to provide data on disposition PK and absolute bioavailability.
Pharmaron supports microdosing studies with both stable and radiolabels:
- Using 13C drug with LC-MS/MS analysis (assuming the assay can reach the desired LLOQ)
- Using 14C drug with LC+AMS analysis (typically achieves lower LLOQ’s than LC-MS/MS with more rapid method development and validation timelines)
Typical applications:
- Lead and backup compound selection
- Comparator studies with existing marketed drug(s)
- Drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies using cassette microdosing techniques with probe substrates (for enzyme inhibition/induction)
- Combination 14C microdose - 11C PET PK/PD studies, for CNS compounds
- Drug targeting and tissue disposition (e.g. anti-cancer chelating agents in human DNA from tumor biopsies)