Predictive Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

Our research in Predictive Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics focuses on characterizing and quantifying dose-concentration-effect/toxicity relationships for new and available drugs against bacterial infections and various types of cancer.

Research chain in PK/PD

Our goal is to develop models and methods that can predict which dosing strategies that provide most information in experimental and clinical studies and the best effect – with tolerable side effects – in clinical practice. We improve the interpretation of data by integrating in vitro, in vivo and clinical information via pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling.

The developed methodology is expected to facilitate drug development and to identify optimal treatment therapy using existing drugs.

Research group Predictive Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Research group Predictive Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

CURRENT RESEARCH

Bacterial infections

Antibiotic resistance is rapidly rising globally. In order to overcome and counteract the emergence of resistance, we contribute to the rational development of new therapies, for example with strategies where several antibiotics are administered in combination. The overall goal is to develop robust methods, based on preclinical data, that can predict clinical outcome variables for therapies against serious infections caused by difficult-to-treat pathogens.

BacteriaWe develop mechanism-based PKPD models that describe bacterial growth, killing and resistance development. In these analyses, in vitro and in vivo data are integrated to predict effects over time of different dosing regimens that can then be linked to different types of clinical data.

We are also investigating how the immune system and biomarkers are linked to the bactericidal effect and can be used for scaling between different animal species.

Selected articles:

Researchers Bacterial infections: Lena Friberg, Iris Minichmayr, Diego Vera, Irene Hernández-Lozano, Viktor Rognås, Chenyan Zhao, Amaury O'Jeanson, Raphael Saporta, Haini Wen.

Oncology

The number of cancer therapies under development has rapidly increased in recent decades. This places high demands on being able to predict the clinical potential of a new therapy at an early stage where desired and unwanted effects must be weighed against each other in a complex biological system.

Oncology PK/PD researchWe develop PKPD models that describe time courses for a number of different variables related to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs as well as targeted and immune therapies. We characterize relationships between dose, concentration, biomarkers, side effects, tumor size (diameters, volumes), tumor and immune response activity, patient-reported evaluation of the therapy (PRO) and survival. These models are integrated to define a dosing strategy that best balances adverse effects, quality of life and survival.

We also develop methods that aim to improve drug therapy in children with cancer by minimizing the risk of serious side effects without simultaneously increasing the risk of relapse. We are also investigating which time-varying measures of tumor size and biomarkers that can best predict survival.

To optimize translation (scaling) from preclinical to clinical settings, we build mechanistic models for advanced treatments such as therapeutic vaccines and combination therapies of bispecific antibodies. The models are intended to be of value in supporting the development of new and existing drug treatments, and to be a tool for dose adjustments for an individual patient.

Selected articles:

Researchers Oncology: Lena Friberg, Maddalena Centanni, Eman Ibrahim, Han Liu, Daniel Centanni, Javier Sanchez Fernandez.

KONTAKT

Group leadar

Lena Friberg
Professor of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Department of Pharmacy
Uppsala university
Lena.Friberg@farmaci.uu.se
+46 (0)70-4250203
More information

Research grupp

Last modified: 2023-02-20
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