The need for juvenile animal studies--a critical review.

With the introduction of specific pediatric legislation in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) requiring the development of medicines for children the interest in juvenile animal studies (JAS) increased, but also the discussion about the value and necessity of such studies. Regulatory guidance regarding JAS is available from The International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) M3(R2) guideline and from more specific guidance documents issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This paper summarizes and discusses the regulatory requirements regarding the need for JAS, their design and timing as well as the current experience with such studies.

Critical evaluation of the use of dogs in biomedical research and testing in Europe.

Dogs are sometimes referred to as "man's best friend" and with the increase in urbanization and lifestyle changes, dogs are seen by their owners as family members. Society expresses specific concerns about the experimental use of dogs, as they are sometimes perceived to have a special status for humans. This may appear somewhat conflicting with the idea that the intrinsic value of all animals is the same, and that also several other animal species are used in biomedical research and toxicology.

Evaluation of carcinogenicity studies of medicinal products for human use authorised via the European centralised procedure (1995-2009).

Carcinogenicity data of medicinal products for human use that have been authorised via the European centralised procedure (CP) between 1995 and 2009 were evaluated. Carcinogenicity data, either from long-term rodent carcinogenicity studies, transgenic mouse studies or repeat-dose toxicity studies were available for 144 active substances contained in 159 medicinal products. Out of these compounds, 94 (65%) were positive in at least one long-term carcinogenicity study or in repeat-dose toxicity studies.

Approaches for assessing risks to sensitive populations: lessons learned from evaluating risks in the pediatric population.

Assessing the risk profiles of potentially sensitive populations requires a "tool chest" of methodological approaches to adequately characterize and evaluate these populations. At present, there is an extensive body of literature on methodologies that apply to the evaluation of the pediatric population. The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Subcommittee on Risk Assessment of Sensitive Populations evaluated key references in the area of pediatric risk to identify a spectrum of methodological approaches.

Replacement of in vivo acute oral toxicity studies by in vitro cytotoxicity methods: opportunities, limits and regulatory status.

The development of a new medicinal product is a long and costly process in particular due to the regulatory requirements for quality, safety and efficacy. There is a common interest to increase the efficiency of drug development and to provide new, better quality medicinal products much faster to the public. One possible way to economize time and costs, as well as to consider animal protection issues, is to introduce new alternative methods into non-clinical toxicity testing.

Challenges and lessons learned since implementation of the safety pharmacology guidance ICH S7A.

The International Conference on Harmonization, Topic S7A guidance (ICH S7A) on safety pharmacology for human pharmaceuticals has been in effect for 3 years in Europe, the United States and Japan. Surveys of the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies and the audience attending the 4th Annual Meeting of the Safety Pharmacology Society have helped identify and address areas of controversy, as well as those challenges that have emerged since implementation of the guidance worldwide. Overall, ICH S7A has been successfully implemented.

Indirect human exposure to pharmaceuticals via drinking water.

There are numerous observations of pharmaceuticals (or their metabolites) as contaminants in wastewater, surface water and groundwater. This implies a potential for indirect human exposure to pharmaceuticals via drinking water supplies. Various effect benchmarks may be employed in an evaluation of the significance of such indirect exposure.

ICH topic: the draft ICH S7B step 2: note for guidance on safety pharmacology studies for human pharmaceuticals.

During the last ICH Expert Working Group meeting for Safety Pharmacology in February 2002 in Brussels, the appended step 2 S7B document on QT Prolongation was signed off. This paper will now be published by the three agencies. The comment period will be 6 months.