Determination of the Stability of Drugs in Plasma

Abstract

In order for a drug to be effective, enough of the active form must reach the target to elicit the desired effect. The first-pass effect for drugs taken orally is well known but the metabolism of drugs in plasma must also be considered during the drug discovery and development process. For instance, hydrolysis of a compound by plasma enzymes can significantly alter the bioavailability of the active compound. This unit describes methods for the determination of the stability of compounds in plasma.