Given the novelty of COVID-19 and lack of any proven therapies, clinical and quantitative pharmacology and translational medicine principles, such as characterization of exposure-response, are pivotal for fighting COVID-19 effectively and efficiently.  Clinical pharmacology is foundational to the “science” of dosing.

Critical questions to ask when triaging compounds:

-What is our target confidence,  is it pharmacologically or biologically plausible?  Do we have direct or indirect evidence?

– ADME profile – What is the route of administration?  How might renal and hepatic impairment impact?  What about age, ethnicity, pregnancy or other drugs being taken?

– Will it reach the site of infection at a rate and extent to be impactful?  Are loading doses necessary?

-And ultimately what is the likely clinical therapeutic index, and how might it be used in real world situation safely?