Approaches for predicting human pharmacokinetics using interspecies pharmacokinetic scaling

Reliably predicting pharmacokinetic behavior in humans from preclinical data is an important aspect of drug development. The most widely used technique in this regard is allometric scaling. In this review, various approaches developed for predicting pharmacokinetic parameters in humans using interspecies scaling are introduced and discussed. Methods to predict plasma concentration-time profiles in humans after intravenous and oral administration are also reviewed. The reliable prediction of human pharmacokinetics with regard to investigational drugs is aimed, ultimately, at selecting the first in-human dose with which to begin clinical studies. Approaches for the selection of the first in-human dose are also reviewed. Although there have been many trials to compare and optimize interspecies scaling methods, no firm conclusions have been reached. Because interspecies scaling methods are still highly empirical, further effort is needed to improve the reliability of predicting human pharmacokinetics by interspecies scaling.