First dose in neonates: pharmacokinetic bridging study from juvenile mice to neonates for drugs metabolized by CYP3A.

First dose prediction is challenging in neonates. Our objective in this proof-of-concept study was to perform a pharmacokinetic (PK) bridging study from juvenile mice to neonates for drugs metabolized by CYP3A. We selected midazolam and clindamycin as model drugs. We developed juvenile mice population PK models using NONMEM. The PK parameters of these two drugs in juvenile mice were used to bridge PK parameters in neonates using different correction methods. The bridging results were evaluated by the fold-error of 0.5- to 1.5-fold. Simple allometry with and without a correction factor for maximum lifespan potential could be used for a bridging of clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vd), respectively, from juvenile mice to neonates. Simulation results demonstrated that for midazolam, 100% of clinical studies for which both the predictive CL and Vd were within 0.5- to 1.5-fold of the observed. For clindamycin, 75% and 100% of clinical studies for which the predictive CL and Vd were within 0.5- to 1.5-fold of the observed. A PK bridging of drugs metabolized by CYP3A is feasible from juvenile mice to neonates. It could be a complement to the ADE and PBPK models to support the first dose in neonates.