Preclinical Cardiovascular Safety Evaluations of BiologicsOptimizing the Approach and Follow-Up

Standard therapeutic agents (STA) are usually relatively small and simple molecules, which are synthesized as highly pure and consistent molecules. However, their target specificity can be low so that there is a liability for side effects at non-targeted receptors, enzymes or ion channels. Alternatively, highly specific and targeted small molecules can elicit cardiovascular liabilities due to their target-based effects. As a result of their long existence in pharmaceutical practice, their safety evaluation is fairly well standardized and their potentially promiscuous, non-specific actions mandate broad evaluations.