Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PKPD) analysis
What is pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) analysis?
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis, or PKPD analysis, determines the relationship between drug-induced behavioral or psychological effects and the concentration of a drug or metabolite in the body. It is an alternative to conventional dose-effect analysis, which relates the drug effects to the drug dosage.
PKPD analysis uses two subdisciplines within pharmacology: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Pharmacokinetics is the path of a drug through the body and the concentration it has in different body compartments. Pharmacodynamics is the physiological and behavioral consequences that result from the drug as it travels through and interacts with the body.
What value does PKPD analysis offer?
PKPD allows for the effects of a drug based on its concentration to be determined. This offers greater insights than simply equating drug effects to drug dosage, as it shows how much of the drug makes it to the destination. PKPG analysis also allows for the evaluation of drug metabolites, which may contribute to a drug’s overall effect.
With PKPG analysis, researchers can compare multiple drugs to determine which is most effective for a specific disease, which is the safest, and how each drug is processed over time when the disease is present.