About this Research Topic
Drug metabolism and transport play crucial roles in determining the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic compounds. Advancements in understanding drug metabolism pathways and transporters have paved the way for the development of innovative drugs.
Substantial progress has been made in identifying key metabolic enzymes and transporters implicated in human diseases, along with advancements in regulatory guidance for in vivo and in vitro studies of these proteins. Such progress is visible in recent drug approvals, and some examples include prodrugs, hydrolases in beta-lactam antibiotic combinations, bile acid transporter inhibitor (odevixibat), sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor (ertugliflozin), and monoamine inhibitors (valbenazine, deutetrabenazine).
However, future challenges remain in improving drug delivery and require a multidisciplinary approach, involving advances in technology, computational modeling, personalized medicine, and collaborative research efforts.
This Research Topic aims to outline the importance of new drug development strategies and address the challenges faced in drug metabolism and transport such as (but not limited to):
- Optimizing drug delivery to ensure therapeutic efficacy and minimize adverse effects, by focusing on new drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, and prodrugs, to enhance drug stability, bioavailability, and tissue-specific targeting. Additionally, strategies to overcome biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, can significantly impact the treatment of neurological disorders.
- Addressing Drug Resistance: transporters can be responsible for drug resistance and a low bioavailability of the drug in the target tissue. The inhibition or induction of drug transporters can precipitate significant and potentially harmful drug-drug interactions, while genetic variations can lead to considerable variability among individuals, profoundly impacting the efficacy and safety profiles of the respective pharmaceuticals. As a result, contemporary drug development programs must rigorously account for drug transporters in line with current guidelines established by medical authorities to ensure the efficacy and safety of newly developed therapeutic entities.
- The involvement of gut microbiota in drug metabolism: The gut microbiota's impact on drug metabolism extends beyond specific enzymatic modifications. Interactions between the microbiota and drugs can influence systemic drug concentrations, potentially affecting therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, variations in an individual's gut microbial composition can lead to substantial variability in drug metabolism among different populations or even within individuals. Understanding and considering the role of gut microbiota in drug metabolism is becoming increasingly crucial in pharmacology and drug development. Integrating this knowledge into research and drug design processes could pave the way for more personalized and effective therapeutic interventions while minimizing potential adverse effects stemming from microbiota-related drug metabolism variations.
- Integration of Systems Biology: To tackle the complexity of drug metabolism and transport, an interdisciplinary approach that integrates systems biology is crucial. Combining experimental data with mathematical modelling and computational simulations can provide a holistic understanding of drug metabolism networks, identify key regulatory nodes, and predict drug responses accurately. Collaborative efforts between researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals will enable the translation of this knowledge into actionable strategies for drug development.
- Adhering with regulatory guidance for in vitro and in vivo testing: Regulatory guidance for in vitro and in vivo metabolism and transport studies and mediated drug-drug interaction potentials, is primarily provided by various health authorities and regulatory agencies around the world (e.g., ICH, EMA, FDA, PMDA, CFDA). These guidelines are critical for the development and approval of pharmaceuticals and other medical products, in addition to up-to-date knowledge utilization.
This collection welcomes submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report (submission in the Experimental Pharmacology section only), Clinical Trial (submission in the Drug Metabolism and Transport section only), Correction, Data Report, Editorial, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Technology and Code.
Topic Editor Dr. Charles OO is the founder of SunLife Biopharma Consult.
Substantial progress has been made in identifying key metabolic enzymes and transporters implicated in human diseases, along with advancements in regulatory guidance for in vivo and in vitro studies of these proteins. Such progress is visible in recent drug approvals, and some examples include prodrugs, hydrolases in beta-lactam antibiotic combinations, bile acid transporter inhibitor (odevixibat), sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor (ertugliflozin), and monoamine inhibitors (valbenazine, deutetrabenazine).
However, future challenges remain in improving drug delivery and require a multidisciplinary approach, involving advances in technology, computational modeling, personalized medicine, and collaborative research efforts.
This Research Topic aims to outline the importance of new drug development strategies and address the challenges faced in drug metabolism and transport such as (but not limited to):
- Optimizing drug delivery to ensure therapeutic efficacy and minimize adverse effects, by focusing on new drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, and prodrugs, to enhance drug stability, bioavailability, and tissue-specific targeting. Additionally, strategies to overcome biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, can significantly impact the treatment of neurological disorders.
- Addressing Drug Resistance: transporters can be responsible for drug resistance and a low bioavailability of the drug in the target tissue. The inhibition or induction of drug transporters can precipitate significant and potentially harmful drug-drug interactions, while genetic variations can lead to considerable variability among individuals, profoundly impacting the efficacy and safety profiles of the respective pharmaceuticals. As a result, contemporary drug development programs must rigorously account for drug transporters in line with current guidelines established by medical authorities to ensure the efficacy and safety of newly developed therapeutic entities.
- The involvement of gut microbiota in drug metabolism: The gut microbiota's impact on drug metabolism extends beyond specific enzymatic modifications. Interactions between the microbiota and drugs can influence systemic drug concentrations, potentially affecting therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, variations in an individual's gut microbial composition can lead to substantial variability in drug metabolism among different populations or even within individuals. Understanding and considering the role of gut microbiota in drug metabolism is becoming increasingly crucial in pharmacology and drug development. Integrating this knowledge into research and drug design processes could pave the way for more personalized and effective therapeutic interventions while minimizing potential adverse effects stemming from microbiota-related drug metabolism variations.
- Integration of Systems Biology: To tackle the complexity of drug metabolism and transport, an interdisciplinary approach that integrates systems biology is crucial. Combining experimental data with mathematical modelling and computational simulations can provide a holistic understanding of drug metabolism networks, identify key regulatory nodes, and predict drug responses accurately. Collaborative efforts between researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals will enable the translation of this knowledge into actionable strategies for drug development.
- Adhering with regulatory guidance for in vitro and in vivo testing: Regulatory guidance for in vitro and in vivo metabolism and transport studies and mediated drug-drug interaction potentials, is primarily provided by various health authorities and regulatory agencies around the world (e.g., ICH, EMA, FDA, PMDA, CFDA). These guidelines are critical for the development and approval of pharmaceuticals and other medical products, in addition to up-to-date knowledge utilization.
This collection welcomes submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report (submission in the Experimental Pharmacology section only), Clinical Trial (submission in the Drug Metabolism and Transport section only), Correction, Data Report, Editorial, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Technology and Code.
Topic Editor Dr. Charles OO is the founder of SunLife Biopharma Consult.
Keywords: Drug Metabolism and Transport, drug delivery systems, drug stability, Drug Resistance, Systems biology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
