MetID (Metabolite Profiling and Identification)

The metabolite profiling and identification helps in understanding how the drugs are metabolized and eliminated from the body. It provides information on the metabolic pathways involved, the metabolites formed, and their relative abundance over time. This information is essential for optimizing drug dosing, predicting drug-drug interactions, and assessing the potential toxicity.

Understanding characteristics and structural assignments of the metabolites in different preclinical species (cross-species comparison) can help identify human-specific metabolites or those found at disproportionately high levels in humans in comparison to toxicity models. Comparing the in vitro and in vivo metabolism data of animals can determine if there is a good in vitro-in vivo correlation of metabolism, which can further ensure the reliability of using in vitro metabolism to predict in vivo metabolism in humans.

MetID of both in vitro and in vivo metabolic samples was performed by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) -ultraviolet detector (PDA) -high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/Orbitrap) tandem technology. Combined with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) technique, the accurate structure of the metabolite was identified. If working with the radiolabeled compound, the LC-UV-HRMS with radioactivity detector can be used to detect and identify the metabolites.

The timeline for receiving metabolite identification results depends on the complexity of the test compounds and the type of the assays. For regular small molecule compounds, the study can be completed in several days to two weeks during the early screening stage and generally takes four weeks for IND (Investigational New Drug) filing. For new modalities or special compounds, the process extends to approximately four to six weeks. It would be great to contact your study director if you have any questions about the availability of the study results.