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Interspecies Scaling of Clearance and Volume of Distribution Data for Five Therapeutic Proteins

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Abstract

The clearance and volume of distribution of five human proteins (recombinant CD4, CD4 immuno-globulin G, growth hormone, tissue-plasminogen activator, and relaxin) in humans and laboratory animals were analyzed as a function of body weight using allometric scaling techniques. These proteins cover a 16-fold range of molecular weight (6 to 98 kD), are produced by recombinant or synthetic methods, and may be cleared by different mechanisms. The analyses revealed that the clearance and volume data for each protein were satisfactorily described by an allometric equation (Y = a Wb). The allometric exponent (b) for clearance (ml/min) ranged from 0.65 to 0.84, the allometric exponent for the initial volume of distribution (ml) ranged from 0.83 to 1.05, and the allometric exponent for the volume of distribution at steady state (ml) ranged from 0.84 to 1.02. Exponent values from 0.6 to 0.8 for clearance and 0.8 to 1.0 for volumes are frequently cited for small molecules and are expected based on empirical interspecies relationships. When the preclinical data were analyzed separately, the pre-clinical allometric relationships were usually predictive of the human results. These findings indicate that the clearance and volume of distribution of select biomacromolecules follow well-defined, size-related physiologic relationships, and preclinical pharmacokinetic studies provide reasonable estimates of human disposition. Employing this methodology during the early phases of drug development may provide a more rational basis for dose selection in the clinical environment.

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  1. Joyce Mordenti

    Present address: Department of Drug Metabolism, R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Welsh and McKean Roads, Spring House, Pennsylvania, 19477

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., 460 Point San Bruno Boulevard, South San Francisco, California, 94080

    Joyce Mordenti, Sharon A. Chen & Jerome A. Moore

  2. Department of Drug Metabolism, R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Welsh and McKean Roads, Spring House, Pennsylvania, 19477

    Bobbe L. Ferraiolo

  3. Department of Safety Evaluation, Genentech, Inc., 460 Point San Bruno Boulevard, South San Francisco, California, 94080

    James D. Green

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Mordenti, J., Chen, S.A., Moore, J.A. et al. Interspecies Scaling of Clearance and Volume of Distribution Data for Five Therapeutic Proteins. Pharm Res 8, 1351–1359 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015836720294

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