ISSX Meeting started in Portland

ISSX 2019 started today in Oregon Convention Center, which has beautiful flowers installation in the hallway inside the building (see image below). The first day is traditionally dedicated to the Short Courses on important topics relevant to the present state of study of xenobiotics research. I was not able to clone myself and attend all sessions running in parallel, so I had to select between transporters and non-P450 enzymes, and between PKPD and QSP modeling and idiosyncratic DILI (drug-induced liver injury).

It was stressed once again that failure in Phase II due to safety issues is a significant issue, and does not show any decrease during last decade. Unfortunately, conventional animal-based toxicity studies are not solving the problem of predicting adverse drug reaction. These days a lot of focus is on transporters and their importance in drug metabolism, toxicity and drug-drug interactions. Clinically important transporters for DDI (drug-drug interactions) were discussed, among which are: P-gp, BCRP, OATP, MATE, BSEP and others. It was interesting to learn that circulating miRNAs could be an early and sensitive biomarker for drug-induced adverse effects.

The day concluded with the official opening of ISSX 2019 12th International Meeting followed by the Keynote Lecture discussing disruptive technology: model-informed precision dosing. And to meet and chat with all colleagues attending this important meeting Welcome Reception is held in the exhibition hall with about 50 exhibiting companies. Local wine and beer tasting is a wonderful conclusion of the first conference day.

Looking forward to the intense conference program through to Wednesday, July 31, 2019. I would love to chat with each and every of 700 attendees, and or communication will be extended beyond the conference.