() BMC Neuroscience BioMed Central Review Open Access Requirements for a lead compound to become a clinical candidate Franz F Hefti Address:Avid Radiopharmaccuticals,Inc Market Strect,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania 19104,USA Email:Franz F Hefti.hefti@avidrp.com Published:10 December 2008 BMC Neuroscience 9(Suppl ):S7 dol:10.1186/1471-202-9-3-57 This article is available from:http://www.biomedcentral.com/l471-2202/9/S3/S7 Abstract A drug c bioavaihbiligy,andbiodisnibutiontoelictthedesiredresponsesinaninmalsandhumansitmustalsc pass formal toxicity evaluation in a mals.The path fron lead to clinic the mo the ent Because of incidents of unpredicted human toxicity seen in recent years,the regulator e and public dem Introdu tion ern drug d man c Most important ly,a drug evaluation in animals.to demonstrate that humans pa ticipating in the clinical studies are exposed to minimal eated mi risks only fication of a lead compound.its modification to for many decades.knowledge and exnerience about drg and de p guaranteed to end in success.Even before the onset of oritoc6iegrmldonphCC human studies,a drug candidate suitable for clinical test earch,drug discovery and development have se to sa sty specitic and de and and elicit the desired functional response from the targ molecule.It must have sufficient bioavailability and the body to reach the receptor site andi Page 1 of 7
BioMed Central Page 1 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) BMC Neuroscience Review Open Access Requirements for a lead compound to become a clinical candidate Franz F Hefti Address: Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc., Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA Email: Franz F Hefti - hefti@avidrp.com Abstract A drug candidate suitable for clinical testing is expected to bind selectively to the receptor site on the target, to elicit the desired functional response of the target molecule, and to have adequate bioavailability and biodistribution to elicit the desired responses in animals and humans; it must also pass formal toxicity evaluation in animals. The path from lead to clinical drug candidate represents the most idiosyncratic segment of drug discovery and development. Each program is unique and setbacks are common, making it difficult to predict accurately the duration or costs of this segment. Because of incidents of unpredicted human toxicity seen in recent years, the regulatory agencies and public demands for safety of new drug candidates have become very strict, and safety issues are dominant when identifying a clinical drug candidate. Introduction Modern drug discovery and development efforts typically emerge from basic research and then gradually move on to specific sequential tasks, which – if successful – culminate in a new drug for the treatment of a human disease. The overall pathway is structured by well-delineated milestones, which include selection of the drug target, identification of a lead compound, its modification to a compound suitable for toxicity testing in animals, and selection as drug candidate for clinical testing. Although the road is well mapped out, it is by no means easy or guaranteed to end in success. Even before the onset of human studies, a drug candidate suitable for clinical testing is expected to satisfy specific and demanding criteria. It must bind selectively to the receptor site on the target and elicit the desired functional response from the target molecule. It must have sufficient bioavailability and distribution within the body to reach the receptor site, and it must elicit the desired responses in vivo, in animal models of the human disease. Most importantly, a drug candidate suitable for testing in humans must pass a formal toxicity evaluation in animals, to demonstrate that humans participating in the clinical studies are exposed to minimal risks only. For many decades, knowledge and experience about drug discovery and preclinical drug development have been safeguarded by the pharmaceutical companies, and there was little outside interest. More recently, with the growth of the biotechnology industry and its open interface to academic research, drug discovery and development have become widely recognized as important, unique, and challenging activities. from 2007 and 2008 Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference New York, USA. 5-6 February 2007. Washington, DC, USA. 4-5 February 2008 Published: 10 December 2008 BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 doi:10.1186/1471-2202-9-S3-S7 tral.com/content/pdf/1471-2202-9-S3-info.pdf Proceedings of the 2007 and 2008 Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference Howard Fillit and Antony Horton The conference and the publication of these proceedings were supported by a conference grant: U13-AG031125 from the National Institute of Aging and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Additional support was provided by CoMentis, Inc; Pfizer, Inc.; Biogen Idec and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Proceedings http://www.biomedcenThis article is available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 © 2008 Hefti; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
BMC.9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 ndidate suitable Selection ofa lead c The broad libraries the properties expected from a molecule taken into the and tim targets 1.High quality leads are compounds that alre cause they are determined by the and human tisfy ba The inulat of fu molecules must have a molecular weight less than 500 g/ duce the desired pharmacologic effects on the target and n animal models of the se se,with a route of a minis d n ore than 10 hydr nd e ical n hu Modemn sample collections contain many of toxicity that predlude use in humans.Each medicina the chemicals.However,most successful drugs have molecu Each individual deficiency in efficacy,specificity,pharma- lar weights below 500 P values belo 5,and fai d prope potentia must le of fv hind nthat avoid the undesired binding step taken and each chem and offer chemical modifications.Optimally,there will already be progran the selectivities of the leads are typically useful information on pharmace eevaluated in a br ity and hall-life From the ne ctive it is st of the known drug r particularly useful to have information on blood-brain cally identify a small number of undesired binding affini barrier penetration on Table Desired properties for drug candidate taken for evaluation in formal animal toxicity studies. Properties Details Sable molecule Nonproblematic synthesis with potential for scale-up olgical properties binding binding Selective and potent Effec ess in animal model of targeted human indication Pharmacokinetics Adequate half-life and biodistribution for intended use Safety and toxicity Satisfactory profile for inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes Absence of obvious cardiac toxicity (hERG binding) Page 2 of7 (page number not for citation purposes)
BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 2 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) From lead molecule to a drug candidate suitable for testing in formal animal toxicity studies The broad availability of chemical compound libraries and automatic screening technologies has made it relatively easy to identify initial lead candidates for new drug targets [1]. High quality leads are compounds that already satisfy some of the criteria for a future drug candidate. Chemists at Pfizer developed the so-called rule of five for leads and drug candidates [2]. The rule stipulates that molecules must have a molecular weight less than 500 g/ mol, a partition coefficient (logP – a measure of hydrophobicity) less than 5, no more than five hydrogen bond donors, and no more than 10 hydrogen bond acceptors. Modern sample collections contain many molecules that violate the rule of five. Keeping the molecular weight under 500 has become particularly difficult because broad synthetic efforts naturally tend to increase the size of the chemicals. However, most successful drugs have molecular weights below 500 and logP values below 5, and failed compounds tend to fall outside this range [3]. In addition to satisfying the rule of five, high quality leads will have appropriate selectivity for the intended target, rather than giving positive signals in different screening assays. High quality leads will be attractive from the point of view of synthetic chemistry and offer diverse routes for multiple chemical modifications. Optimally, there will already be useful information on pharmacokinetic properties, showing that they are within a reasonable range of bioavailability and half-life. From the neuroscience perspective, it is particularly useful to have information on blood-brain barrier penetration. Selection of a lead compound is followed by the initiation of a synthetic medicinal chemistry program. Table 1 lists the properties expected from a molecule taken into the expensive and time-consuming formal animal toxicity studies, which precede testing in humans. The criteria are vague by necessity, because they are determined by the intended route of administration and human disease targeted. In broad strokes, a molecule must satisfy basic needs of future manufacturing and storage. It has to produce the desired pharmacologic effects on the target and in animal models of the disease, with a route of administration and frequency of dosing commensurate with practical use in humans. It cannot produce any obvious signs of toxicity that preclude use in humans. Each medicinal chemistry program is unique, because it must focus on the deficiencies of the lead molecules. Each individual deficiency in efficacy, specificity, pharmacokinetic properties, and toxic potential must be addressed by defining the structure-activity relationship for the binding site that mediates an effect, and by synthesizing analogs that avoid the undesired binding sites. Each step taken and each deficiency resolved will affect other properties, making it impossible to address them in simple sequential order. Nevertheless, in a medicinal chemistry program, the selectivities of the leads are typically addressed first. Leads are evaluated in a broad counterscreening program, in which they are tested for affinity to most of the known drug receptor sites. These tests typically identify a small number of undesired binding affinities that must be worked out of the compound through chemical modifications. Counter-screen assays for the Table 1: Desired properties for drug candidate taken for evaluation in formal animal toxicity studies. Properties Details Chemical properties Stable molecule Nonproblematic synthesis with potential for scale-up Pharmacological properties Selective high-affinity binding to target binding site Selective and potent functional effect on target receptor molecule in vitro Effectiveness in animal model of targeted human indication Pharmacokinetics Adequate bioavailability for selected route of administration Adequate half-life and biodistribution for intended use Safety and toxicity Satisfactory profile for inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes Absence of obvious cardiac toxicity (hERG binding) Absence of obvious toxicity in animal studies
BMC Neuroscience 2008.9(Suppl 3):S7 http://ww.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 and they become part of the routine assays used in sup- particular the human gene product that forms the chan port of furthering the medicinal chemistry program. nel,namely hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) ate affinity to the re eptor site is the 、porated rou ter-screen cytochrome P450 enzymes,which are responsible for the maoirafaiatbolanrogitiasofdnug,areoie Bindin arly n vitro systems relatively simple and highly suitable for dete ining the In every program it is possible to detect significant toxicity affinity.Compound ufficiently high affinity m s by care ns of animals use in efficacy on the t s.and body ematic ffects Inspection of organs after necrops often of th ne affinity.selectivity.and functional efficacy are taker well as toxicity studies.can play a maior role forward into further in uivo selection processes in a drug discovery project,because they help to avoid set- cks after the time consuming formal animal toxicity The sele studies r site Drug discovery projects evolve with time in distinct pat ease.There is a high ong drug dis esthe biologic assay o2meeProe spe les g Mature dr ha mod lter or ar MinimIz dm da predic optimizing the as well as g dise An receptor.For most drug discovery pr ry researcher to select the best compound at eac nt steps aluated will ch vailability and to select compounds with satisfactory an optimized medicinal chemist ssays determine bin ding to the receptor. function ss of ologic evolution. er chem biologic nse.The level of difficulty and capacir of biolo but rather the are designed hased on rationa the available in vivo models drive these decisions.Very ofte animal mode are mplex an ng a di ug can is long and In rar comments on this topic would inap propriately blur and success,but it may be necessary to synthesize several thou trivialize the large differences among drug discovery pro sands of molecules before an acceptable drug candidat grams years and large groups ists and oal yprograthataddr aety concems The basic eapplicable for small whenminor. we could lead to sudden death in patients.Of particular con strates that antibodies can her eful for the treatmento cern are drugs that increas the QT interval in th sequence of card diseases.High specificity andong re key a The RNAs es of the key determinant of the OT interval,and unfortunately amaieboogcdhgoaRne The se equential step this channel has a binding site with significant structural by which molecular biologic methods are used to improve Page 3 of 7 (page number not for cita ses)
BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 3 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) undesired affinities in a lead compound often remain an issue for the subsequent series of chemical derivatives, and they become part of the routine assays used in support of furthering the medicinal chemistry program. Achieving adequate affinity to the receptor site is the next main goal of the medicinal chemistry program. To reach sufficient selectivity and potency in vivo, it is necessary to find compounds with binding affinities in the low nanomolar or even picomolar range. Binding assays are relatively simple and highly suitable for determining the affinity. Compounds with sufficiently high affinity move on to further assays that determine the functional effects on the target molecule, in order to distinguish agonistic from antagonistic responses. Binding and functional assays define the in vitro segment of the medicinal chemistry selection process. Compounds with sufficient binding affinity, selectivity, and functional efficacy are taken forward into further in vivo selection processes. The in vivo assays serve to select compounds with satisfactory pharmacokinetic properties to reach the receptor site and to elicit the desired effect in animal models of the disease. There is a high degree of variability among drug discovery projects in the specific way in which this is handled. In the simplest possible case, a single animal model can satisfy all of these needs. The biologic efficacy of a compound in a predictive animal model after oral administration implies sufficient bioavailability and receptor occupancy, as well as appropriate effects on the receptor. For most drug discovery projects, however, these different steps are evaluated with individual assays. Standard pharmacokinetic methods are used to measure bioavailability and to select compounds with satisfactory properties. In vivo receptor occupancy assays determine adequate binding to the receptor. Finally, a functional model of the disease serves to measure the appropriate biologic response. The level of difficulty and capacity of the available in vivo models drive these decisions. Very often, animal models of specific diseases are complex and require treatment durations of several months. General comments on this topic would inappropriately blur and trivialize the large differences among drug discovery programs. It is advantageous to incorporate early in medicinal chemistry programs assays that address specific safety concerns. Cardiovascular effects for example, even when minor, represent major problems for a drug candidate, because they could lead to sudden death in patients. Of particular concern are drugs that increase the QT interval in the sequence of cardiac contractions, because they predict an increased risk for heart attack [4]. The IKr ion channel is the key determinant of the QT interval, and unfortunately this channel has a binding site with significant structural overlap with many G-protein-coupled receptor drugbinding sites. Thus, IKr receptor site binding assays – in particular the human gene product that forms the channel, namely hERG (human ether-à-go-go-related gene) – are often incorporated into routine in vitro counter-screening batteries. In a similar way, inhibition or induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are responsible for the majority of metabolic transformations of drugs, are often monitored early with in vitro systems. In every program it is possible to detect significant toxicity issues by careful observations of animals used in efficacy studies. Major behavioral changes in motor activity, excretory functions, and body colors indicate potentially problematic effects. Inspection of organs after necropsy often divulges hints about toxic effects in the absence of extensive histopathology studies. Such casual observations, as well as exploratory toxicity studies, can play a major role in a drug discovery project, because they help to avoid setbacks after the time consuming formal animal toxicity studies. Drug discovery projects evolve with time in distinct patterns. During the early stages the biologic assays are adjusted and optimized. Redundant steps are omitted. Mature drug discovery programs have a well-established critical path of in vitro and in vivo biologic assays by which chemicals are selected. Minimizing and optimizing the steps of the critical path is one of the keys to success in drug discovery. An optimized critical path allows the drug discovery researcher to select the best compound at each step without redundancies. The critical path will change if new issues are encountered that need to be resolved. The selection process of an optimized medicinal chemistry program and critical path has similarity to the Darwinian selection process of biologic evolution. However, chemicals are not randomly generated as are the mutations in biology, but rather they are designed based on rational considerations. The path from target selection to identifying a drug candidate is long and complicated. In rare cases, a few hundred molecules are necessary to achieve success, but it may be necessary to synthesize several thousands of molecules before an acceptable drug candidate emerges. Several years and large groups of chemists and biologists are often necessary to achieve this goal. The basic criteria listed in Table 1 are applicable for small organic molecules as well as for biologic drug candidates. The success of natalizumab in multiple sclerosis [5] demonstrates that antibodies can be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. High specificity and long half-life are key advantages of antibodies. In recent years, small inhibitory RNAs have emerged as new and highly attractive biologic drug candidates. The sequential steps by which molecular biologic methods are used to improve
BMC.9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 ath of nndays is closelysma stored,and delivered according to highest specifications es,wh are gen Requirements for drug candidate suitable for ood Manuta ing Practices is man In al stu clinical studies with experimental drug nd th require the approval of regulatory agencies,who exercise n various regulatory guidance documents 6.In essence substantial and dominant contro ight is ed and sho ot to h nd that the tration (FDA)whose activities are govemed by law.The material can be stored and delivered without degradation. FDA requires filing of a Notice of C Claimed Investigationa whereas the laree application describes the composition and synthesis of mural units that specialize in these tasks l8andidhate,andthedh the tudies an isk.it crite on as well the clin plan humar To es and t minimi publicly available guidance documents 6].The essentia r administration featurcs.arelistedinThable ed a v data.must obtai e ed in in drug development io 8amas,ianfomaiononheph9macok istry pro Table 2:Information needed to support request for clinical testing ofa drug candidate(IND filing to FDA). Information Details Chemistry.Manufacturing and Control (CMC) Compound with acceptable stability and formulation Absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion (ADME) Route of administration Metabolic pathways Potential drug-drug (P450ym) Initiaatan potential genotoxicyand cardiotoxicity Mechanism of action and pharma Effects on receptor Clinical development plans Detailed protocol of initial studies FDA Food and Drug IND,Notice of Claimed foraNew Drug Page 4 of7 (page number not for citation purposes)
BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 4 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) the antibodies and small inhibitory RNAs are analogous to those of a medicinal chemistry program. The critical path of in vitro and in vivo assays is closely similar; selectivity, potency, and efficacy must be established in the selection of the final drug candidate. Requirements for drug candidate suitable for human studies In all countries, clinical studies with experimental drugs require the approval of regulatory agencies, who exercise substantial and dominant control over drug testing requirements and ultimate approval. In the USA regulatory oversight is provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), whose activities are governed by law. The FDA requires filing of a Notice of Claimed Investigational Exemption for a New Drug (IND) for approval to proceed to clinical studies with a new drug candidate. The IND application describes the composition and synthesis of the drug candidate, and the data from in vitro studies and animal experimentation, as well as the clinical plans. The criteria used in the evaluation are explained in various publicly available guidance documents [6]. The essential features are listed in Table 2. Approval of an IND makes it possible to proceed to clinical testing of a drug candidate and is justifiably considered a very significant milestone in drug development. Minimizing the risk to participants in clinical studies requires that drug candidate material be manufactured, stored, and delivered according to highest specifications. Accordingly, these activities, which are generally referred to as Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), are intensely regulated. Adherence to standardized and regularly updated Good Manufacturing Practices is mandatory. A detailed description of these requirements would be beyond the scope of this short review and can be found in various regulatory guidance documents [6]. In essence, they ensure that the drug candidate is being produced in reliable and reproducible ways, where eventual impurities are characterized and shown not to be toxic, and that the material can be stored and delivered without degradation. Academic units and small biotechnology companies typically outsource CMC activities to specialized companies, whereas the large pharmaceutical companies have intramural units that specialize in these tasks. To plan human studies and to minimize risk, it is necessary to make plausible predictions about the fate of the drug candidate in the human body after administration. Relevant predictive information, typically referred to as Administration, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion data, must obtained in animal studies before administration to humans. Initial information on the pharmacokinetic behavior of lead compounds and derivatives is typically obtained earlier in the medicinal chemistry proTable 2: Information needed to support request for clinical testing of a drug candidate (IND filing to FDA). Information Details Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) Compound with acceptable stability and formulation Controlled production under cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Processes) Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) Route of administration, half-life Metabolic pathways Potential drug-drug interactions (including effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes) Toxicology Systemic and organ toxicity: gross and microscopic changes; two animal species, covering time periods of intended human exposure Estimated safety window between efficacious dose and 'no observed adverse effect level' (NOAEL) Initial data on potential genotoxicity and cardiotoxicity Mechanism of action and pharmacology Effects on receptor in vitro Efficacy in animal models in vivo Clinical development plans Detailed protocol of initial studies FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IND, Notice of Claimed Investigational Exemption for a New Drug
BMC Neuroscience 2008.9(Suppl 3):S7 http://ww.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 studies.Pharmacokinetic parameters-including bioavail out toxicity must be identified.To minimize this risk ned in two and Us established interspecies conversation factors.these data are than used to predict the human parameters. devoid of toxicity. Before use of a drug andidate in hum s it is ne The high attrition rate in safety testing observed with to characterize its metabolic transformations in the body mall rganic compounds emphasizes the main advan The vast t majority of small rgan ecule tage of b e less kely to exhib as well asc lently link the drug to naturally occurring hydrophilic compounds.Metabolic nsormation of drugs some predictable metaboli c pathways and pharmacokir animal toxicity studies tends to be lower than that of major metabolites and to assess their potential toxicity small organic molecules These advantages have been n de rmin pote tial of widely ognized and drive the success of a drug I their ettects on meta bolic enzymes ir Broad information on fr and can vary from species often rendering their the cult tas tud linical ecome avail Formal toxicity studies in animals are the most imp studies,sometimes even a plausible rationale,are suffi- date od ing the pro ent to support the pham duration in humans.Plasma levels must reach sufficiently must be provided,but the focus should on the detailed high levels to yield ad uate high f the early human safety studie ent safety parent at the hi hisb dov et the gher dos development.and the medical oath of not doing har applies just as rigorously for participating drug discovery guide the inve in th for les esearchers. tions,body fluid composition is analyzed for abnormali Conclusion ties and,at the end of the study,the organs of the test The path from lead to clinical drug candidate is not linear animals ar he tis ues proce for often depicted as a sequence of mo intion of the therapeutic window for a drug candidate.A is typically desired betweer liscovery projects. .Each program is unique and tends t ying ger backs and fai ead and clinical drus candidate is often referred to as the ng ste hin the op nent path companies share the xperience that about three out of cies,universities,and companies,it is extremely difficult five small molecule drug candidates fail in animal toxicity to predict accurately the duration or costs of this segment Page 5 of 7 (page number not for citat
BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 5 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) gram. For submission of the IND, these exploratory studies must be supplemented by results from more formal studies. Pharmacokinetic parameters – including bioavailability after oral or other systemic administration, plasma half-life, volume of distribution, clearance, and exposure – are determined in two or three animal species. Using established interspecies conversation factors, these data are than used to predict the human parameters. Before use of a drug candidate in humans, it is necessary to characterize its metabolic transformations in the body. The vast majority of small organic molecules undergo metabolic transformation through hydroxylation and dealkylation, as well as conjugation reactions that covalently link the drug to naturally occurring hydrophilic compounds. Metabolic transformation of drugs sometimes generates unexpected toxic products. In every drug discovery project it is thus necessary to characterize the major metabolites and to assess their potential toxicity. Metabolic transformation determines the potential of a drug candidate to interfere with the function of another drug. Because drug-drug interactions often determine the success of a drug in medical practice, it is necessary to understand in detail their effects on metabolic enzymes in addition to the study of their own transformation. Metabolic transformations vary from molecule to molecule and can vary from species to species, often rendering their study a very complex and difficult task. Formal toxicity studies in animals are the most important component of the characterization of a new drug candidate. They have to be carried out following the procedures of Good Laboratory Practice. The time period of administration to animals must exceed the intended treatment duration in humans. Plasma levels must reach sufficiently high levels to yield adequate high exposure to the tested drug candidate. Typically, during the course of the safety studies, toxic effects become apparent at the higher dose levels. These easily observable high-dose effects then guide the investigators in the search for less obviously toxic effects at lower doses. Besides behavioral observations, body fluid composition is analyzed for abnormalities and, at the end of the study, the organs of the test animals are weighed and the tissues processed for histological analysis. The toxicity studies provide an initial definition of the therapeutic window for a drug candidate. A 20-fold or higher difference is typically desired between clinically effective plasma levels in humans and those producing toxicity in animals. In addition, before clinical studies, all drug candidates must be evaluated in the standard in vitro tests predicting genotoxicity. Toxicity testing is the most unpredictable and most frustrating step in drug discovery and development. Most pharmaceutical companies share the experience that about three out of five small molecule drug candidates fail in animal toxicity testing for unpredictable and unknown reasons. Failure of a drug candidate in toxicity testing may set a program back by several months if not years, because new analogs without toxicity must be identified. To minimize this risk, experienced pharmaceutical companies typically generate several backup compounds in each medicinal chemistry program, with the hope that one among them will be devoid of toxicity. The high attrition rate in safety testing observed with small organic compounds emphasizes the main advantage of biologic drugs. Biologics are less likely to exhibit unpredictable off-target activities than small organic molecules of xenobiotic origin. In addition, peptides, proteins, and RNAs tend to have simpler and more predictable metabolic pathways and pharmacokinetic properties. Consequently, the failure rate of biologics in animal toxicity studies tends to be lower than that of small organic molecules. These advantages have been widely recognized and drive the multiple attempts to generate biologic rather than small organic molecule drug candidates. Broad information on mechanism of action and pharmacology is typically available for a clinical drug candidate. Information on in vivo efficacy maintains the enthusiasm for the program through the years of ongoing clinical studies, before clinical data become available. However, efficacy data are less critical than safety and toxicity data for the actual IND submission. A simple set of animal studies, sometimes even a plausible rationale, are sufficient to support the pharmacology part of an IND submission. Similarly, the clinical plans provided must emphasize safety. An overall clinical investigational plan must be provided, but the focus should on the detailed design of the early human safety studies. Patient safety is the absolute and primary concern in drug discovery and development, and the medical oath of not doing harm applies just as rigorously for participating drug discovery researchers. Conclusion The path from lead to clinical drug candidate is not linear, even though it is often depicted as a sequence of modular activities and milestones. Figure 1 is an attempt to reflect the complex, modular interactions encountered in drug discovery projects. Each program is unique and tends to be idiosyncratic, defying generalization. Setbacks and failures occur frequently. Accordingly, the segment between lead and clinical drug candidate is often referred to as the 'zone of chaos', 'problem solving period', or 'valley of death' within the drug discovery and development pathway. To the great frustration of planners in funding agencies, universities, and companies, it is extremely difficult to predict accurately the duration or costs of this segment
BMC Neuroscience 2.(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Lead Molecule Binding Site Optimization of Drug Candidate Affinity ★◆ ★◆ Efficacy in vivo PK and Metabolism CGMP IND-enabling Studies Manufacturing Exploratory Toxicity PK and Drug Candidate for Metabolites Human Studies 4 GLP Animal Toxicity Studies Figure l tory Practice:IND.Notice of Claimed Investigationl Exemption for a New Drug:PK.pharmacokinetics. Competing interests iaphomancamReecfanhndhnlicondn several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. cacious new drug can be signals and data for efficac drive the p d as part of BMC N ce Volume 9 Sup atrast,in the phase of selecting and characterizing a clini drug candidate locus must be onne/www..com/471-u3. observed in human studies in recent agencies and public demands for safety are stricter than References ever before 2 i CA.L rdo F.Do imenta Page 6 of7 (page number not for citation purposes)
BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 6 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) On the positive side, it provides one of the most challenging and interesting of scientific activities [7]. Drug discovery programs are initiated and driven by the belief that an efficacious new drug can be identified and made available to suffering human patients. The positive signals and data for efficacy drive the program forward. In contrast, in the phase of selecting and characterizing a clinical drug candidate, the focus must be on human safety. Because of several incidents of unpredicted toxicity observed in human studies in recent years, the regulatory agencies and public demands for safety are stricter than ever before. Safety issues and concerns require the highest attention when identifying a clinical drug candidate. Competing interests The author is an employee of and shareholder in Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc. (PA, USA) and shareholder of several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Acknowledgements This article has been published as part of BMC Neuroscience Volume 9 Supplement 3, 2008: Proceedings of the 2007 and 2008 Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference. The full contents of the supplement are available online at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9?issue=S3. References 1. Bajorath J: Integration of virtual and high-throughput screening. Nat Rev Drug Discovery 2002, 1:883-894. 2. Lipinski CA, Lombardo F, Domini BW, Feeney PJ: Experimental and computational approaches to estimate solubility and permeability in drug discovery and development settings. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 1997, 23:3-25. Pathway from lead to drug candidate suitable for clinical trials Figure 1 Pathway from lead to drug candidate suitable for clinical trials. The diagram represents the complex interactions, nonlinear nature of the process, and the potential setbacks. cGMP, current Good Manufacturing Practices; GLP, Good Laboratory Practice; IND, Notice of Claimed Investigational Exemption for a New Drug; PK, pharmacokinetics. Lead Molecule Binding Site Optimization of Drug Candidate Affinity Target Selectivity Efficacy in vivo PK and Metabolism cGMP IND-enabling Studies Manufacturing Exploratory Toxicity PK and Metabolites Drug Candidate for Human Studies GLP Animal Toxicity Studies
BMC Neuroscience 2008.9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 nPD:A ral 125 1256. nd TG prec 5. 6 and Rese 7.DrgorNervou m Diee Hoboken,N Wley. BioMed Central will beth Your researh papers will b yours-you keep the copyright Subouhere Page 7 of7 ses)
Publish with BioMed Central and every scientist can read your work free of charge "BioMed Central will be the most significant development for disseminating the results of biomedical research in our lifetime." Sir Paul Nurse, Cancer Research UK Your research papers will be: available free of charge to the entire biomedical community peer reviewed and published immediately upon acceptance cited in PubMed and archived on PubMed Central yours — you keep the copyright Submit your manuscript here: http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/publishing_adv.asp BioMedcentral BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9(Suppl 3):S7 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/9/S3/S7 Page 7 of 7 (page number not for citation purposes) 3. Wenlock MC, Austin RP, Barton P, Davies AM, Leeson PD: A comparison of physiochemical property profiles of development and marketed oral drugs. J Med Chem 2003, 46:1250-1256. 4. Redfern WS, Carlsson L, Davis AS, Lynch WG, MacKenzie I, Palethorpe S, Siegl PK, Strang I, Sullivan AT, Wallis R, Camm AJ, Hammond TG: Relationships between preclinical cardiac electrophysiology, clinical QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes for a broad range of drugs: evidence for a provisional safety margin in drug development. Cardiovasc Res 2003, 58:32-45. 5. Miller DH, Khan OA, Sheremata WA, Blumhardt LD, Rice GP, Libonati MA, Willmer-Hulme AJ, Dalton CM, Miskiel KA, O'Connor PW, International Natalizumab Multiple Sclerosis Trial Group: A controlled trial of natalizumab for relapsing multiple sclerosis. N Engl J Med 2003, 348:15-23. 6. US Food and Drug Administration: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Guidance Documents. [http://www.fda.gov/ cder/guidance/]. 7. Hefti FF: Drug Discovery for Nervous System Diseases Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2005
