Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling to Identify Physiological and Drug Parameters Driving Pharmacokinetics in Obese Individuals

Abstract

Background: Obese individuals are often underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to a lack of dosing guidance.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate which physiological parameters and drug properties determine drug disposition changes in obese using our physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) framework, informed with obese population characteristics.

Methods: Simulations were performed for ten drugs with clinical data in obese (i.e., midazolam, triazolam, caffeine, chlorzoxazone, acetaminophen, lorazepam, propranolol, amikacin, tobramycin, and glimepiride). PBPK drug models were developed and verified first against clinical data in non-obese (body mass index (BMI) ≤ 30 kg/m²) and subsequently in obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) without changing any drug parameters. Additionally, the PBPK model was used to study the effect of obesity on the pharmacokinetic parameters by simulating drug disposition across BMI, starting from 20 up to 60 kg/m².

Results: Predicted pharmacokinetic parameters were within 1.25-fold (71.5%), 1.5-fold (21.5%) and twofold (7%) of clinical data. On average, clearance increased by 1.6% per BMI unit up to 64% for a BMI of 60 kg/m², which was explained by the increased hepatic and renal blood flows. Volume of distribution increased for all drugs up to threefold for a BMI of 60 kg/m²; this change was driven by pK_a for ionized drugs and logP for neutral and unionized drugs. C_max decreased similarly across all drugs while t_max remained unchanged.

Conclusion: Both physiological changes and drug properties impact drug pharmacokinetics in obese subjects. Clearance increases due to enhanced hepatic and renal blood flows. Volume of distribution is higher for all drugs, with differences among drugs depending on their pK_a/logP.