Absorption Systems validated its claim as a leader in testing drugs for ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) when the company announced today that one of its scientists, Dr. Igor Mezine, was named an inventor on an international patent application submitted by Belgian drug developer Shire-Movetis NV. The subject of the patent application, now available in the public domain, is the use of a novel class of chemicals, (1,4)-benzodiazepines, as vasopressin V2 receptor antagonists. The potential clinical indication of vasopressin receptor antagonists is the treatment of hypertension.
In a study contracted to Absorption Systems by Movetis NV (since acquired by Shire PLC), Dr. Mezine used one of the innovative processes developed by Absorption Systems to produce a novel metabolite of a drug candidate. The process, biomimetic oxidation, utilizes a completely artificial system that mimics some of the enzymatic reactions performed in the body by certain liver enzymes. The metabolite, which had eluded synthesis by conventional medicinal chemistry, was as pharmacologically active as the parent compound. In subsequent testing by Shire-Movetis, the new molecule was found to be a vasopressin receptor inhibitor.
Biomimetic oxidation, described in an article by Dr. Mezine and colleagues in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (GEN) in 2009, has been the basis for numerous presentations at scientific conferences over the past several years. It is a symbol of Absorption Systems’ expertise in drug metabolism and metabolite identification, as well as the company’s ability to answer tough questions with innovative solutions.
Patrick Dentinger, president and CEO of Absorption Systems, commented that “this application of biomimetic oxidation is just another example of the innovation and unique expertise that we bring to bear on our customers’ ADMET challenges. Sometimes, as in this case, the benefits go beyond what either party expected.”
About Absorption Systems
Absorption Systems, founded in 1996, assists pharmaceutical and medical device companies in identifying and overcoming ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) barriers in the development of drugs and medical devices. The company’s mission is to continually develop innovative research tools that can be used to accurately predict human outcomes or to explain unanticipated human outcomes when they occur. The CellPort Technologies® platform, a suite of human cell-based test systems for drug transporter characterization, exemplifies Absorption Systems’ commitment to innovation and is soon to be an industry standard for in vitro drug interaction assessment. Absorption Systems has facilities near Philadelphia, PA, and San Diego, CA, and serves customers throughout the world. For information on the company’s comprehensive contract services and applied research programs, please visit www.absorption.com.
