ADMET 7

ADMET Overview

1. Introduction to ADMET

  • ADMET: Acronym for Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion, key pharmacokinetic properties of drugs.

2. Components of ADMET

  • Absorption: How the drug enters systemic circulation, involves routes and mechanisms.

    • Routes/Sites of Administration: Different methods used to deliver the drug (e.g., oral, transdermal).

    • Mechanisms of Absorption: Dynamic processes that govern the entry of the drug into circulation (e.g., passive diffusion, active transport).

    • Prodrugs: Inactive compounds that metabolize into active drugs.

    • Absorption-based DDIs (Drug-Drug Interactions): Interactions that alter the absorption of drugs.

  • Distribution: Refers to how the drug disperses throughout the body.

    • Models of Distribution: Various theoretical frameworks explaining how drugs distribute in the body compartments.

    • Volume of Distribution: A pharmacological parameter that quantifies the distribution of a drug throughout body fluids and tissues.

      • Equation: Vd=racDCV_d = rac{D}{C}, where DD is the dose and CC is the concentration in the plasma.

    • Sequestration: Process where drugs are stored in specific body compartments (e.g., fat, muscle).

    • Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) / Central Nervous System (CNS) Penetration: Examines how and if drugs can cross the BBB to affect the CNS.

    • Distribution-based DDIs: Interactions that modify the distribution of concurrent medications.

  • Metabolism: The biochemical process that converts the active drug into inactive or active metabolites.

    • Sites of Metabolism: Specific organs or tissues (e.g., liver) where drug metabolism primarily occurs.

    • Influencing Factors: Various factors that affect metabolism (e.g., age, genetic factors, liver function).

    • Types of Chemical Reactions: Different metabolic reactions such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, etc.

    • Metabolic Pathways & Enzymes: Pathways through which drugs are biotransformed and the enzymes (e.g., CYP450) involved.

    • Metabolism-based DDIs: Interactions that affect the metabolic rate or pathways of drugs.

  • Elimination: The process of removing the drug or its metabolites from the body.

    • Routes of Clearance: Various pathways through which drugs are eliminated (e.g., renal clearance).

    • Influencing Factors: Factors that affect elimination such as renal function.

  • Toxicity: Further details to be discussed in subsequent terms.

ADMET Metabolism: Active Metabolites

1. Overview of Active Metabolites

  • Active Metabolite: A metabolite that possesses pharmacological activity itself and contributes to the therapeutic effect of the parent drug.

2. Learning Objectives for Active Metabolites

  • Identify marketed drugs that function as active metabolites of other drugs.

  • Define and differentiate relevant terms regarding active metabolites.

3. Terms & Definitions

  • Pharmacophore: The specific three-dimensional arrangement of atoms or groups necessary for a drug's biological activity, responsible for targeting specific receptors.

  • Example: A diagram representing the pharmacophore for binding at the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA receptor showing diazepam and its derivatives.

4. Importance of Active Metabolites

  • They can prolong the action of the parent drug, increasing therapeutic effectiveness and affecting dosage regimens.

5. Mechanism of Action

  • Active metabolites must retain specific characteristics in size, shape, and electronic distribution to effectively bind to the same drug target as the parent drug.

6. Examples of Active Metabolites

  • Paliperidone (Invega®): Active metabolite of risperidone; hydroxylation process influenced by enzyme CYP2D6, forms the palmitate ester.

  • Desvenlafaxine succinate (Pristiq®): Active metabolite of venlafaxine; characterized by O-dealkylation through CYP2D6, making up 55% of the dose.

  • Nortriptyline HCl (Pamelor®): Active metabolite of amitriptyline; formed by N-dealkylation via CYP2C19.

  • Desloratadine (Clarinex®): Result of the hydrolysis of loratadine, involving CYP3A4 and CYP2D6.

  • Oxazepam (Serax®): Derived from diazepam through oxidation processes influenced by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4.