Absorption Systems Publishes Data in Drug Metabolism and Disposition.

Evaluation of Human Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (hBCRP) Contributes to Understanding of Drug-Drug Interactions and Chemotherapy Resistance

EXTON, Pa. -- Absorption Systems, LP, today announced the online publication of a scientific manuscript in one of the leading journals in the field of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, Drug Metabolism and Disposition. The paper describes the engineering of Absorption Systems' proprietary test system for measuring drug efflux, the cell's mechanism for expelling substances, including pharmaceuticals, as it relates to Human Breast Cancer Resistance Protein, or hBCRP. The over-expression of hBCRP in cancer cells is an important mechanism contributing to tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. In normal physiology, hBCRP helps reduce exposure of sensitive tissues, such as the placenta, testis and brain, to potentially toxic chemicals ingested in the diet Evaluation of hBCRP may help researchers better understand patient response to chemotherapeutics used to treat breast cancer or interactions between co-administered therapeutic drugs or drugs and dietary supplements, such as herbal products.

Absorption Systems conducted the study in order to produce unique, definitive cell-based models for studying hBCRP and other efflux transporter protein activity, which are collectively referred to as CellPort Technologies[TM]. "Utilizing our broad experience with epithelial monolayers, we were able to engineer our new test system to produce human cell lines useful in assessing the interaction of compounds with hBCRP. Our expectation is that scientists equipped with this advanced test system will be better able to predict drug interactions and pursue drug development strategies most likely to avoid harmful toxic effects mediated by interaction with hBCRP," said Patrick M. Dentinger, president and CEO of Absorption Systems. "This study and others in progress within Absorption Systems are integral to our focus on improving the understanding of drug transporter proteins and the ability to predict certain human drug-drug interactions in vitro, thereby reducing the risks and improving the efficiency of drug development."

The paper is available online at http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/cgi/reprint/dmd.108.023309v1 and will be in print in Drug Metabolism and Disposition, which is published by the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, in the coming months.

About Absorption Systems, LP

Founded in 1996 by Patrick Dentinger and Ismael J. Hidalgo, Ph.D., Absorption Systems, LP (ASLP) focuses on performing assays (analyses) that can predict the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) of small molecules using a variety of in vitro, in situ, and in vivo models. ASLP supports these assays with state of the art bioanalytical capabilities and preclinical formulation services. For more information visit: www.absorption.com.