DMPK Insights #3: Free Drug Theory: No Longer Just a Hypothesis?

In this podcast, Scott Summerfield, Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Metabolism at Pharmaron discusses his recent publication on Free Drug Theory (FDT) with Simon including the principles, arguments, and project impact. This article was an invited contribution to a special edition of the Pharmaceutical Research Journal recognizing the achievements of Professor Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes and Kp,uu.The episode addresses the following questions:What is the FDT?How FDT relates to fundamental physical and biochemical principles?How ambiguity in its definition can hamper discussions in drug design?Importance of linking drug-at-target concentrations to drug-target bindingHow to apply FDT as a starting point to understanding concentration-effect relationships and PK/PD?Speaker:<br/>Scott Summerfield, Ph.D.  - Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Metabolism at Pharmaron<br/><br/>Dr Scott Summerfield is currently Senior Director and Head of Pharmaceutical Metabolism at Pharmaron where he leads the UK group and its support of the Life Sciences industry.  He studied Chemistry at Coventry University followed by a PhD in Biological Mass Spectrometry at Warwick University and then a Post Doctoral fellowship at Manchester University.  Scott joined the Pharma industry in 1997 as a member of SmithKline Beecham’s DMPK group.  At the formation of GSK he moved to Neuroscience Discovery serving in a range of roles from leading the bioanalytical and biotransformation team, DMPK program representative, and member of the company’s Blood-Brain Barrier Working Group.  Scott has led WW groups supporting nonclinical and clinical PK and Biomarker Bioanalysis and has published over 60 scientific articles and book chapters.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a children’s book author, a professional Coach, and a Kung Fu instructor.  Reference:<br/>Summerfield, S.G., Yates, J.W. and Fairman, D.A., 2022. Free Drug Theory–No Longer Just a Hypothesis?. Pharmaceutical Research, 39(2): 213-222. <br/>Stay tuned for more podcasts in our Pharmaron DMPK Insights Series!