A Portal Tool for Information Sharing, a Door to Knowledge, and a Place for Interaction
I have been serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Newsletter of the Japanese Pharmacokinetics Society since 2024, 22 years after its launch in 2002 by the first committee (chaired by Dr. Tamai). During this period, the Newsletter has been produced by the energetic activities of the first committee members and the efforts of successive committee chairs who succeeded them (Chair Yamazaki in the second term, Chair Yuasa in the third term, Chair Matsunaga in the fourth term, Chair Maekawa in the fifth term, and Chair Tomi in the sixth term), as well as by committee members in each term, Since 2015, the DMPK has been renewed as a more “easy-to-use” electronic version of the letter in conjunction with the online journalization of the DMPK and is now available to all members. The electronic version of the letter is now available to the public. As in the previous term, the 7th committee has a diverse group of members from pharmaceutical companies, academia, and hospitals. With the motto of creating a newsletter that is “fun to read,” we will continue our efforts to make the letter a timely source of the latest information on pharmacokinetics and related advanced science, and a catalyst for new ideas for our members.
Needless to say, in recent years, new drug discovery efforts have been made in a variety of modalities, ranging from conventional small molecule and antibody drug discovery to cellular, gene therapy, mid-molecular, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), modified antibody, and nucleic acid drug discovery. Against this backdrop, we have started a multi-part series of newsletters since the last issue of this newsletter to provide an easy-to-understand overview of the kinetic characteristics of each modality and the points to keep in mind when developing drugs based on these characteristics. So far, we have published several series on “Cell Therapy” and “ADCs,” which have been well received. We are planning similar series on other modalities in the future, so please stay tuned.
In the field of pharmacokinetic research, where we are engaged in, in addition to the utilization of AI, Robotics, etc., various advanced scientific technologies such as highly accurate and high-resolution analysis and visualization technologies, higher-order culture systems using human cells, and systems mathematical In the field of dynamics research, in addition to the use of AI, Robotics, etc., there are attempts to apply various advanced scientific technologies, such as high-precision, high-resolution analysis and visualization, high-order culture systems using human cells, and systems mathematical modeling. We would like to cover such advanced technology applications in future newsletters. In addition, we would like to organize projects that will enable young researchers in particular to learn what the legends who have been leading pharmacokinetics have been feeling as they pursue their research, projects that will provide opportunities for members to get to know each other and deepen mutual exchanges (such as “AdmeCircle”), and projects that will provide information on regulatory science that is essential for advancing drug development. We also plan to continue our efforts to provide regulatory science information that is essential for drug development.
Finally, the newsletter is made possible not only by the information provided by the editorial board members, but also by the cooperation of our members, including the writing of manuscripts. We hope to contribute to the revitalization of the society through the newsletter, and we would appreciate your continued support and cooperation in the future.
Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
Yasuhisa Nagasaka
Astellas Pharma Inc.