Utilizing Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models to Support Rational Medication in Chinese Elderly Population

Area of Science:

• Pharmacokinetics
• Geriatric Medicine
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• China faces a rapidly aging population, increasing medication reliance among the elderly.
• Rational medication administration in the elderly is crucial but hampered by limited pharmacokinetic (PK) data.
• Existing PK studies in the elderly are scarce and complex, hindering personalized treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of PK data in the elderly Chinese population.
• To develop and validate Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for commonly prescribed drugs.
• To explore the application of PBPK models in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) for neuropsychiatric medications.

Main Methods:

• Validated PBPK models for 50 drugs in adults using clinical trial data.
• Developed and applied PBPK models for four specific drugs (ticagrelor, rivaroxaban, alprazolam, midazolam) in the elderly Chinese population.
• Simulated drug concentration-time profiles and compared with observed data.

Main Results:

• PBPK models demonstrated strong agreement with observed PK data in Chinese elderly for the four tested drugs.
• No significant PK differences were observed between elderly and younger adults across 50 drugs.
• Provided evidence-based dosage recommendations for four neuropsychiatric drugs in the elderly.

Conclusions:

• PBPK models successfully addressed data gaps for 50 drugs in the Chinese elderly.
• Developed medication plans tailored for the elderly, offering a novel approach to individualized and rational drug therapy.
• PBPK modeling provides a valuable tool for personalized medication practices in geriatric populations.