Extrapolation of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters from in vitro or in vivo animal to human is one of the main tasks in the drug development process. Translational approaches provide evidence for go or no-go decision-making during drug discovery and the development process, and the prediction of human PKs prior to the first-in-human clinical trials. In vitro-in vivo extrapolation and allometric scaling are the choice of method for projection to human situations. Although these methods are useful tools for the estimation of PK parameters, it is a challenge to apply these methods since underlying biochemical, mathematical, physiological, and background knowledge of PKs are required. In addition, it is difficult to select an appropriate methodology depending on the data available. Therefore, this review covers the principles of PK parameters pertaining to the clearance, volume of distribution, elimination half-life, absorption rate constant, and prediction method from the original idea to recently developed models in order to introduce optimal models for the prediction of PK parameters.

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This study developed the pharmacokinetic (PK)–pharmacodynamic (PD) model of the testosterone-suppressive effect of leuprolide for evaluation of the sustained release (SR) depot and leuprolide solution in rats with or without prostate cancer. Six groups of rats were divided by the routes of administration (intravenous and subcutaneous injection) and kinds of formulation (vehicle, leuprolide solution, and SR depot). The PK profile after subcutaneous injection of leuprolide solution could be well-described by the one-compartment model. The absorption rate constant, the total body clearance, and the volume of distribution were estimated at 16.67 h−1, 514.46 mL/h, and 487.40 mL. Using PK parameters in the solution-administered group, the PK model for the SR depot was developed. The PK–PD model was constructed by describing the testosterone-suppressive effect of leuprolide using the feedback turnover model. The response of testosterone after administration of each formulation was well described using this PK–PD model for the estimation of PD parameters (EC50, Emax, h) and systemic parameters (kin, kout, kf on, kf off). The developed PK–PD model containing an inhibitory feedback system could successfully describe the testosterone-suppressive effect of leuprolide in the type of formulation. The PK–PD model developed would be useful for evaluating the formulation of similar drugs whose effect is regulated through the feedback mechanism.

This study optimized the preparation of electrosprayed microspheres containing leuprolide and developed an in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) model that enables mutual prediction between in vitro and in vivo dissolution. The pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) study of leuprolide was carried out in normal rats after subcutaneous administration of electrosprayed microspheres. The parameters of the IVIVC model were estimated by fitting the PK profile of Lucrin depot® to the release compartment of the IVIVC model, thus the in vivo dissolution was predicted from the in vitro dissolution. From this correlation, the PK profile of leuprolide was predicted from the results of in vivo dissolution. The IVIVC model was validated by estimating percent prediction error (%PE) values. Among prepared microspheres, an optimal formulation was selected using the IVIVC model. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity from the predicted PK profile were 4.01 ng/mL and 52.52 h·ng/mL, respectively, and from the observed PK profile were 4.14 ng/mL and 56.95 h·ng/mL, respectively. The percent prediction error values of all parameters did not exceed 15%, thus the IVIVC model satisfies the validation criteria of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance. The PK/PD evaluation suggests that the efficacy of OL5 is similar to Lucrin depot®, but the formulation was improved by reducing the initial burst release.