Allometry has been extensively used in the modern day drug development scenario to
predict the human relevant parameters (clearance, CI, and volume of distribution at
steady state, Vss) from animal data. The applicability of allometry in the prediction of human parameters
for irinotecan (CAS 97682-44-5), an important topoisomerase I inhibitor, has been
retrospectively investigated. Literature pharmacokinetic data has been gathered for
both irinotecan and its main metabolite, SN-38 (CAS 86639-52-3), from several animal
species. The corresponding human parameters were predicted using allometry (Cl and
Vss for irinotecan; Cl/F for SN-38). Although irinotecan has a complex metabolism
and disposition profile, it appeared that simple allometry predicted satisfactorily
the human values for Cl (1.7648W0’669) and Vss (3.1277W0’9044) for irinotecan. On the contrary, Cl/F for SN-38 was over predicted by simple allometry
(53.389W1’2773); and the applicability of bile correction factor rendered Cl/F of SN-38 to be closer
to the observed human value (8.9641W1 3108). The investigation suggests that prospective allometric approaches may aid in the
development of future compounds in this important pharmacological and chemical class
of cytotoxics.
Key words
Allometry - Camptothecin analog, clearance, pharmacokinetics, volume of distribution
- CAS 7689-03-4 - CAS 86639-52-3 - CAS 97682-44-5 - Irinotecan - SN-38 - Toposiomerase
I inhibitors