Simulating the Journey of Oral Medications: A Leap Towards Personalized Medicine

In this episode, we are joined by Deanna Mudie, a senior principal engineer at Lonza, and John DiBella, president of PBPK & Cheminformatics at Simulations Plus, to discuss new techniques in enhancing the bioavailability of drugs.

When you swallow a pill, have you ever pondered the intricate journey it undertakes to deliver its therapeutic effect? This voyage, crucial for the drug's effectiveness, is at the heart of pharmaceutical R&D's quest to enhance bioavailability - the proportion of the drug that enters circulation and reaches the target area.

By simulating how drugs interact with the body, scientists can optimize therapeutic outcomes by tailoring medications to the needs of individual patients. This approach promises a future where drugs are not only more effective but also safer, with reduced side effects. Listen as we delve into the cutting-edge world of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. These computer models integrate factors like gastrointestinal physiology and population characteristics, shedding light on how drugs behave in various body systems without the need for extensive patient testing.

Curious to Know More?

Join us in this conversation hosted by Martina Hestericová with Lonza's Deanna Mudie and Simulations Plus's John DiBella as they unveil the potential of PBPK modeling to revolutionize drug development and personalized medicine.

KEY TERMS IN CONTEXT:

In the context of pharmaceuticals, drug bioavailability refers to the proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and is thereby able to have an active effect. It's a critical factor in determining the drug's effectiveness, as it measures how much of a drug in a dosage form (like a tablet or injection) becomes available at the target site of action.

PBPK modeling is a sophisticated computational modeling technique used to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs within animals and humans. This approach aids in understanding a drug's bioavailability and supports the design of more effective and safer drug therapies.

Gastrointestinal Physiology refers to the study of the functions and processes of the digestive system or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the context of PBPK modeling, understanding gastrointestinal physiology is crucial for predicting how a drug is absorbed into the body, especially for orally administered medications. It includes factors like stomach acid levels, GI transit time, and the surface area available for absorption.

"In silico" refers to the use of computer simulations or digital analyses to conduct experiments or procedures virtually rather than in a laboratory or real-world setting. In silico tools in drug development include software and algorithms used for modeling and simulation, such as PBPK models, which allow researchers to predict how drugs interact with animals and humans, aiding in drug design, testing, and the customization of therapies for personalized medicine.

Capsules for Targeted Therapy: A Game-Changer in Modern Medicine

In this episode we are joined by Vincent Jannin, Lonza's R&D Director, to explore Enprotect, the Award-Nominated Capsule Technology.

Imagine starting your day with a simple capsule that goes beyond simply dissolving in your stomach to reach the place in your body where it is needed most before releasing its medicine. That’s just what Lonza’s Enprotect enteric capsules do. They are designed to release medication directly into the small intestine, which represents a significant leap in pharmaceutical delivery. They improve patient compliance without increasing production costs and offer targeted delivery for specific therapies such as live biotherapeutic products. This targeted approach is crucial for treatments that require local delivery, for example for Crohn's disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or Clostridium difficile infection.

In this episode we hear from Vincent Jannin about how advances in polymer science have ushered in this new era of capsules capable of targeted drug delivery. This marvel of modern medicine combines the fields of chemistry, nanoscience, biology, and physics. The creation of a bilayer capsule—comprised of a structural layer for shape and a functional layer for targeted release—both required the development of new technologies and could itself serve as an enabling technology for future therapies.

Vincent Jannin and his team have published several peer-reviewed studies in open access scientific journals, which were mentioned in the podcast:

• In Vivo Evaluation of a Gastro-Resistant Enprotect Capsule under Postprandial Conditions (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/11/2576)
• In Vivo Evaluation of a Gastro-Resistant HPMC-Based “Next Generation Enteric” Capsule (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/10/1999)
• In vitro evaluation of the gastrointestinal delivery of acid-sensitive pancrelipase in a next generation enteric capsule using an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency disease model (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517322009966)

Curious to Know More?

Join us this episode as we explore the journey from a simple capsule to a sophisticated drug delivery system and how this advancement reflects a remarkable fusion of science and innovation. Discover how the Enprotect technology not only offers hope for more effective treatments but also exemplifies the relentless pursuit of medical advancement for the benefit of patients everywhere.

KEY TERMS IN CONTEXT:

An enteric capsule is a type of capsule specifically designed to bypass the acidic environment of the stomach and release its contents into the small intestine. The term 'enteric' relates to the small intestine. These capsules are formulated to remain intact in the stomach and dissolve only when they reach the more neutral pH levels of the intestine, ensuring targeted drug delivery.

Enteric polymers are materials used in the construction of enteric capsules. They are chosen for their ability to withstand acidic conditions (like those in the stomach) and dissolve at higher pH levels like those found in the small intestine. HPMC Acetate Succinate is an example of an enteric polymer used for the outer layer of the capsule to ensure the treatment’s proper dissolution and release in the intestine.

Live Biotherapeutics (LBPs) refer to live microorganisms used for therapeutic purposes. They are designed to interact with the human microbiome, particularly in the small intestine, and are sensitive to stomach environments. The protection LBPs need before their release in the desired intestinal location is facilitated by specialized capsules.

Fecal Material Transfer refers to a medical treatment involving the transfer of fecal matter from a healthy donor to a patient, often used for conditions like Clostridium difficile infections. The podcast highlighted the potential use of enteric capsules for the delivery of such treatments directly to the small intestine, thereby offering an alternative to more invasive procedures.

Embark on a microscopic journey into particle identification — the unsung hero of pharmaceutical safety — and uncover how this vital process shields us from unseen threats in every single medication we take.

Season three so far, we’ve covered a lot!

In this summary episode, A View On host Martina Hestericova shares a secret and goes over a selection of the best ideas from season three so far.

The production team for A View On has managed to keep things moving along smoothly, so you most likely didn’t even notice that Martina was away for four months. She’s back! Listen in as Martina navigates us through a curated selection of the finest moments from the season: from cell culture to highly potent molecules, from inhalants to gene therapies, we’ve covered a lot this season.

Check out this summary episode and stay tuned for future topics such as antibody based therapies, health ingredients, and even forensic science.

CAR-T Cell Therapy: Re-engineering the Immune System in the Fight Against Cancer

In this episode, Tamara Laskowski, Senior Director of Clinical Development in Personalized Medicine at Lonza, and Aya Jakobovits, from Adicet Bio, discuss the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cell therapy.

CAR-T cell therapy has generated immense enthusiasm within the oncology community since its first FDA approval in 2017. Currently, there are six commercially approved CAR-T cell-based therapies, with more on the horizon. These therapies have exhibited remarkable efficacy, particularly for patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Industry experts Tamara Laskowski and Aya Jakobovits attest to the astounding outcomes witnessed in patients, some of whom have remained in remission for a decade after having received a CAR-T infusion.

CAR-T cells are modified white blood cells that are introduced into a patient’s body. These remarkable cells are meticulously engineered to possess synthetic receptors, known as CARs, which enable them to first identify then eradicate malignant cells with precision. By targeting cancer cells that exhibit a specific target antigen, CAR T-cells have the extraordinary ability to seek out and eliminate harmful cells, offering new hope in the battle against this devastating disease.

Curious to Know More?

Join us on this podcast episode as we explore the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cells, their path to clinical trials, and their role in providing astonishing outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.

KEY TERMS IN CONTEXT:

A Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is a synthetic receptor engineered to be expressed on the surface of immune cells, particularly T cells, allowing them to recognize and bind to specific molecules or antigens present on cancer cells, triggering their destruction. CARs play a crucial role in CAR-T cell therapy by redirecting the immune cells to target and eliminate cancer cells with precision.

CAR-T cell therapy is a revolutionary form of immunotherapy that involves engineering T cells to express CARs on their surface. These modified CAR-T cells are then infused into the patient, where they can recognize and target cancer cells, leading to potent and often long-lasting success with remission.

Personalized medicine tailors medical treatments to individual patients based on their unique characteristics. In the context of CAR-T cell therapy, it involves genetically modifying a patient's own immune cells for customized and targeted cancer treatment.

Autologous therapy is a CAR-T cell therapy approach that uses the patient's own T cells for manufacturing, whereas allogeneic therapy utilizes donor T cells as a cell source, offering potential advantages in terms of scalability and accessibility.

Lonza experts Selene Araya and Charles Johnson discuss the manufacturing process, trends, and future of highly potent compounds (HPAPIs). They highlight Lonza's facilities and expertise in producing HPAPIs across various technologies and scales, ensuring advanced containment and addressing bioavailability challenges.

Ian Thomson from Ypsomed and Roman Mathias from Lonza discuss the market trends in injectable delivery devices, their manufacturing process, and their future in sustainable pharma. Injectable devices offer various benefits, including improved convenience, accuracy, and safety, allowing for precise dosing while reducing the need for hospital visits.

Scaling Up Cell and Gene Therapies: Automation Is the Next Step

In this episode, we take a deep dive into manufacturing cell and gene therapies with Lonza expert Behnam Ahmadian Baghbaderani, executive director of Cell and Gene Therapy Process Development.

Cell and gene therapies have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of rare genetic diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. These therapies involve extracting cells or genetic material from a patient or donor, altering them and then re-injecting them back into the patient to provide a highly personalized treatment. However, the manufacturing process for these therapies is complex and expensive. To increase the availability of these therapies, the industry is making strides in scaling up the manufacturing process to reduce costs.

According to Behnam Ahmadian Baghbaderani, executive director of Cell and Gene Therapy Process Development at Lonza, “It is important to incorporate innovative technologies and reduce the cost of goods and production in order to make these therapies widely accessible for a large number of patients.”

One essential way to achieve this is through automation: automated cell culture systems, including bioreactors, can be used to grow and expand cells in a controlled environment, which reduces the need for manual labor while increasing consistency and reproducibility. Simply put, scaling up the manufacturing process using automation makes these therapies more widely accessible to the large number of patients who need them.

Curious to Know More?

Listen to this episode of A View On Cell and Gene Therapies to explore how cell and gene therapies are manufactured. Get an inside look into the next steps for the industry from Lonza expert Behnam Ahmadian Baghbaderani.