 |
ADME/Tox
High-throughput screening (HTS) for new pharmaceuticals has been strongly driven by the need to test large numbers of novel compounds against increasing numbers of new drug targets. Consequently, more compounds are coming through this initial screening process and increasing the need for higher throughput distribution, metabolism, pharmaco kinetics and toxicity studies. The binding of drugs to the major proteins in plasma plays an important role in their distribution and excretion, and hence their bioavailability. Interaction with CYP450 enzymes also influences the potency and toxicity of candidate drugs. Thymidine uptake assays are a standard method of studying the cytotoxic effects of compounds on cells. Nuclear condensation and caspase activity also serve as markers for apoptosis, disruption of which has been implicated in many disease states such as cancer and atherosclerosis.
|
|
