Newsletter Volume 40, Number 2, 2025
Introduction
The year 2025 has just begun. Welcome to all the newcomers to the world of pharmacokinetics! I wish you all the best in your research activities, and to my colleagues who have been into this world since the 20th century, let’s not forget to challenge yourselves in the future.
Recently, I have started to use AI in my private and public life. The prompts are quite tricky, and the AI’s answers are so logical at first glance that I tend to take them at face value. Now that the age of information collection and organization has come, it is not so useful to just have a high level of knowledge and experience, and I think that the age will come when the power of imagination and creativity will be increasingly tested. （I consulted with AI and received the following words of encouragement: “Work hard on your own!
In this newsletter, we will provide you with up-to-date research results, reports on conference activities, and other useful information. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. (M.T.)
NEW POWER for pharmacokinetic research
Pharmacokinetic Research Beyond “A Pinch is an Opportunity”: Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Cross-linked Artificial Nucleic Acids Using a Novel Radiolabeling Method
Drug Discovery Support Center, Drug Discovery Group, SEKISUI MEDICAL Co.
Takahiro Kikuchi
My name is Takahiro Kikuchi of SEKISUI MEDICAL Co. I would like to thank the editorial board members and all those involved for the opportunity to contribute to the newsletter of the Japanese Society of Pharmacokinetics, “NEW POWER for Pharmacokinetic Research. I entered the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toyama in 2014. During my undergraduate studies, I belonged to the Structural Biology Laboratory led by Professor Mineyuki Mizuguchi, and during my master’s studies, I belonged to the Neurofunctional Neuroscience Laboratory led by Professor Chihiro Higashida, where I conducted research on protein crystallography and substances derived from crude drugs to improve motor dysfunction in chronic spinal cord injury. After obtaining his master’s degree, he joined Sekisui Medical, Ltd. in 2020, and this April will mark his 6th year with the company. … ( To be continued at NL website / members only )
Pharmacokinetics of targeted protein degraders (TPDs)
Part 2: Design of orally available bifunctional protein degraders
Non-clinical Biomedical Science, Astellas Pharma Inc.
Fumio Osaki
Continuing from the previous article, this is the third part of an introduction to pharmacokinetic research in the R&D of new modality, and discusses the topic of “targeted protein degraders”. Targeted protein degraders are a new “small molecule” modality that has been the focus of much attention and anticipation in the past few years, mainly in the field of oncology. In this three-part series, we introduce how to evaluate their unique properties from the viewpoint of pharmacokinetics and translational research, and how to predict their efficacy in clinical practice. In this second article, we will discuss the Bifunctional Protein Degrader, a type of targeted protein degrader, based on the literature, and the points to be considered when designing compounds, especially for good oral absorption. … ( To be continued at NL website / members only )