Preclinical Safety Course

Course Description

This comprehensive course on preclinical safety offers students an in-depth exploration of the crucial methods and processes involved in quantifying the safety of potential drugs. Designed by DavidsonX, this intermediate-level course in the field of Medicine provides a thorough understanding of the intricate world of drug safety assessment, from initial testing to post-approval monitoring.

What Students Will Learn

  • Distinguish between pharmacology and toxicology
  • Understand the origins and evolution of preclinical safety studies required by regulatory agencies
  • Master common in vitro tests for identifying safety risks
  • Learn the design and implementation of various in vivo preclinical safety studies
  • Calculate the first-in-human dose for investigational drugs
  • Comprehend the processes for monitoring the safety of approved drugs

Prerequisites

While there are no strict prerequisites, students should have a solid understanding of human anatomy. Knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics will be beneficial for grasping the course content more effectively.

Course Content

  • Origins of preclinical safety programs
  • Preliminary safety testing for promising compounds
  • In vivo safety studies in rodent and non-rodent species
  • Pharmacokinetic properties and their role in efficacy prediction
  • Drug formulation assistance
  • Distinctions between pharmacology and toxicology
  • Common in vitro safety assays
  • Design of in vivo preclinical safety studies
  • Calculation of first-in-human doses
  • Post-approval drug safety monitoring

Target Audience

This course is ideal for students and professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, medical researchers, toxicologists, and anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of drug safety assessment. It is particularly suited for those looking to advance their knowledge in preclinical safety testing and drug development processes.

Real-World Applications

The skills acquired in this preclinical-safety-course are directly applicable to various roles in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Learners will be equipped to:

  • Contribute to drug safety assessment teams in pharmaceutical companies
  • Assist in designing and interpreting preclinical safety studies
  • Aid in the development of safer and more effective drugs
  • Participate in regulatory submissions for new drug applications
  • Contribute to post-market safety surveillance programs
  • Enhance decision-making processes in drug development pipelines

Syllabus

Week 1:

  • Pharmacology & toxicology
  • Preclinical safety timeline
  • Tragedies in drug safety
  • In vitro safety assays
  • Risks from hERG channel inhibition

Week 2:

  • On-target toxicity
  • In vivo toxicology studies
  • Drug-drug interactions
  • Intra-family target selectivity
  • Drug purity and safety

Week 3:

  • Efficacy vs. safety risks
  • Maximum recommended starting dose
  • Safety in oncology drugs
  • Preclinical safety concurrent with clinical trials
  • Post-approval surveillance

This course offers a unique opportunity to gain expertise in drug-safety-methods, safety-testing-programs, and safety-risks-assessment. By understanding the intricate balance between efficacy-vs-safety-risks and mastering techniques such as in-vitro-safety-assays and in-vivo-safety-studies, students will be well-prepared to contribute to the ever-evolving field of drug development and safety monitoring.