Capabilities and research platforms

In order for a medicine or drug to be safe and effective, it must be absorbed into the body and reach its target site at the correct time and in adequate concentrations to achieve a desired effect, whilst minimising access to off-target sites of toxicity.

Biopharmaceutics studies the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of the drug, its formulation, and the route of administration on the rate and extent of absorption into the body. Once a drug is absorbed into the body it will distribute to tissues and be eliminated from the blood (e.g., via metabolism in the liver or excretion by the kidney).

Pharmacokinetics is a branch of science in which the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of drugs is characterised and mathematically modelled.

We use a range of in silico, in vitro and in vivo techniques to characterise the biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics of drugs. We regularly characterise the physicochemical properties of drug candidates, such as solubility, partitioning, ionisation and stability. We routinely measure drug permeability in vitro and in situ, as well. This helps inform the delivery and formulation approaches to overcome issues that lead to low drug absorption, such as poor water solubility or intestinal permeability.