School of Life Sciences
\nCoursework assessment for Assessment Cycle 2 (semester 1, 2023\/24)
\nLIFE 315 Drug Metabolism and Drug Response
\nModule organiser: Dr Dan Carr
\nMaximum word count: 1,500 words
\nPlease read all instructions (general and specific) carefully! Please also make sure to familiarise yourself with the student guidance for written assessments (Canvas > OX-LIFE-Sciences-202324 > Assessment).
\nGeneral instructions to students:
\n1. Word count
\n\u2022 The word count is a maximum (not plus\/minus 10%). There is no minimum word count.
\n\u2022 Please refer to the specific instructions below regarding what is and what isn\u2019t included in the maximum word count for this assignment.
\n\u2022 Penalties will be applied for exceeding the word count as follows:
\no Up to 1% (e.g. up to 2020 for a 2000 word maximum) no penalty
\no Up to 10% (e.g. between 2021 and 2200 words) 5 % penalty
\no Up to 20% (e.g. between 2201 and 2400 words) 10 % penalty
\no Etc. (i.e. 5% penalty for every 10% above word count)
\n\u2022 Enter your word count at the bottom of your submission
\n2. Submission
\n\u2022 Your work should be submitted via the submission link in your module area in Canvas
\n\u2022 Please make sure that you follow the guidance on written assessments which can be found on the School Canvas Page.
\n\u2022 Also refer to the School Canvas pages in relation to the penalties for Late Submission and possible exemptions.
\n\u2022 If you have any technical problems submitting to Canvas by the deadline, you must email your work to the module organiser (copying in sls-assessment@liv.ac.uk ) by the deadline, as evidence that you have submitted in time. You should also provide a screenshot of the error you are experiencing. You should then continue to attempt submitting via Canvas.
\n3. Academic Integrity
\nThe University\u2019s Academic Integrity policy and your annual Academic Integrity declaration
\napply to this assessment. If necessary, the full range of penalties (Category A, B, C, D, and E)
\nwill be available to examiners if they discover contraventions of the Academic Integrity
\npolicy. You can consult the University\u2019s Academic Integrity guide for students here:
\nhttps:\/\/www.liverpool.ac.uk\/media\/livacuk\/tqsd\/code-of-practice-on-assessment\/appendix_L_cop_assess_annex1.pdf
\nPlease remember you should follow the guidance given on making GAI Declarations by including the appropriate statement in your work:
\nPlease note: Your answer should be written in your own words. Do not use any verbatim (word for word) quotes. Your assignment may not contain verbatim (copy-and-paste) material that you have submitted for another assessment, either on this or a different module.
\nExpectations:
\nIn this assessment, we expect students to write a well-structured essay which correctly uses the appropriate terminology and referencing. To provide context, you should give background information based on the relevant module content. When you address the question, you should use your knowledge and understanding of the module content, but you should also use relevant literature to add a different perspective and\/or more detail. At the higher end of the marking scheme, markers will also be looking for an element of criticality and synthesis. We will also expect a well-founded conclusion.
\nSpecific instructions:
\nPlease choose TWO out of the THREE questions below.
\nCoursework Question(s):
\nQuestion 1
\nTable 1 (below) shows some pharmacokinetic (PK) data for Drug A and Drug B, derived from a clinical study, which investigated the absolute bioavailability and impact of food on drug exposure.
\na) For both drugs, calculate the absolute bioavailability. Examine any differences in PK following the different modes of administration. Discuss the mechanisms by which PK may be altered in these examples, relating to the processes of drug absorption. 30% (450 words)
\nb) Acid-modifying agents can also impact the oral PK of certain drugs. Using named drug examples, describe the different types of acid-modifying agents and evaluate how oral PK could be altered following co-administration. 20% (300 words).
\nTable 1 Pharmacokinetic data of Drug A and B following administration intravenously and orally under fasted and fed conditions.
\nIntravenously
\nOrally, fasted
\nOrally, fed
\nP1
\nDrug A
\nTmax (hr) – Median
\n(inter-quartile range)
\n0.67
\n(0.58-0.93)
\n1.28
\n(0.48-1.52)
\n2.48
\n(1.62-3.1)
\n0.001
\nCmax (mg\/L) \u2013 Geometric mean
\n(range)
\n6.2
\n(3.4-14.1)
\n4.5
\n(2.0-7.5)
\n2.6
\n(1.2-5.9)
\n0.001
\nAUC0-24 (mg.h\/L) \u2013 Geometric mean
\n(range)
\n16.8
\n(8.0-36.6)
\n15.6
\n(7.5-33.0)
\n13.1
\n(5.5-36.8)
\n0.014
\nBioavailability \u2013 F (%)
\n0.014
\nDrug B
\nTmax (hr) – Median
\n(inter-quartile range)
\n1.25
\n(1.00-1.55)
\n3.00
\n2.18-3.31
\n3.00
\n(2.52-4.12)
\n0.136
\nCmax (mg\/L) \u2013 Geometric mean
\n(range)
\n5.3
\n(2.6-10.4)
\n2.8
\n(0.6-6.3)
\n2.5
\n(0.8-3.7)
\n0.126
\nAUC0-24 (mg.h\/L) \u2013 Geometric mean
\n(range)
\n18.1
\n(10.8-33.7)
\n15.7
\n(7.0-24.9)
\n14.8
\n(7.33-33.5)
\n0.681
\nBioavailability \u2013 F (%)
\n0.681
\n1 P-value calculated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. P values \u22640.05 were considered significant
\nQuestion 2
\nA 65-year-old male is undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer. However, his treatment is paused owing to a severe adverse drug reaction. Using an appropriate example of a chemotherapeutic (anti-cancer) drug, describe the involvement of drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions and genetic variation in the development of such an adverse drug reaction. In your answer, evaluate how genetics can be utilised to predict and reduce the risk of an adverse reaction to your drug. 50% (750 words).
\nQuestion 3
\nMany physico-chemical characteristics are known to influence possible responses, whether adverse or efficacious, to nanotherapeutics that are based on nanoparticle formulations. Give examples of the techniques used to identify key characteristics that are linked to these responses. Your answer should include advantages and disadvantages of these techniques and how those characteristics relate to nano-bio interactions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"