Skip to main content

An Introduction to (Q)SAR with Respect to Regulatory Submissions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Integrated Safety and Risk Assessment for Medical Devices and Combination Products
  • 615 Accesses

Abstract

(Q)SAR ((quantitative or qualitative) structure-activity relationships) methodologies are used to predict physical and biological properties of small molecules. These methods are used to support pharmaceutical research and regulatory submissions. Primarily, (Q)SARs are used to predict the activity of untested chemicals based on structurally related compounds with known activity. The term (Q)SAR is often used to refer to predictive models, especially computer-based models; however, in reality (Q)SAR encompasses a wide variety of computerized (i.e., in silico) and non-computerized tools and approaches. As a tool, (Q)SAR is accepted internationally for predicting mutagenicity; however, its applicability for predicting additional endpoints (e.g., skin sensitization or hepatotoxicity) is still an active debate topic, particularly debates about the acceptability of the (Q)SAR models for additional endpoints and how they are either explained or interpreted. After discussing the basics of (Q)SAR, we relate (Q)SAR methodologies to inexpensive and practical applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alves, V., Muratov, E., Capuzzi, S., Politi, R., Low, Y., Braga, R., Zakharov, A. V., Sedykh, A., Mokshyna, E., Farag, S., Andrade, C., Kuz'min, V., Fourches, D., & Tropsha, A. (2016). Alarms about structural alerts. Green Chemistry, 18(16), 4348–4360.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashby, J. (1985). Fundamental structural alerts to potential carcinogenicity or noncarcinogenicity. Environmental Mutagenesis, 7(6), 919–921.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benfenati, E., Pardoe, S., Martin, T., Gonella Diaza, R., Lombardo, A., Manganaro, A., & Gissi, A. (2013). Using toxicological evidence from QSAR models in practice. ALTEX, 30(1), 19–40. https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.2013.1.019.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benigni, R., & Bossa, C. (2006). Structural alerts of mutagens and carcinogens. Current Computer-Aided Drug Design, 2, 1–19. 169–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benigni, R., Bossa, C., Jeliazkova, N., Netzeva, T., Worth, A. (2008). The Benigni/Bossa rulebase for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity-a module of Toxtree 2(008) Available at https://eurl-ecvam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/laboratories-research/predictive_toxicology/doc/EUR_23241_EN.pdf

  • Braga, R. C., & Andrade, C. H. (2012). (2012) QSAR and QM/MM approaches applied to drug metabolism prediction. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 12(6), 573–582.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, G. W. (2000). Compound optimization in early- and late-phase drug discovery: Acceptable pharmacokinetic properties utilizing combined physicochemical, in vitro and in vivo screens. Current Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development, 3(1), 30–41.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cariello, N. F., Wilson, J. D., Britt, B. H., Wedd, D. J., Burlinson, B., & Gombar, V. (2002). Comparison of the computer programs DEREK and TOPKAT to predict bacterial mutagenicity. Deductive estimate of risk from existing knowledge. Toxicity prediction by Komputer assisted technology. Mutagenesis, 17(4), 321–329.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cherkasov, et al. (2014). QSAR modeling: Where have you been? Where are you going to? Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57(12), 4977–5010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer, G. M., Ford, R. A., & Hall, R. A. (1978). Estimation of toxic hazard—a decision tree approach. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 16, 255–276.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crum-Brown, & Fraser. (1868). On the connection between chemical constitution and physiological action; with special reference to the physiological action of the salts of the ammonium bases derived from strychnia, brucia, thebaia, codeia, morphia, and nicotia. Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 2(2), 224–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curios‐IT. (2009). Cramer rules with extensions. Leiden: Curios‐IT.

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA. (2012). (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationship [(Q)SAR] guidance document. Retrteived online 2019 from https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/news/web/pdf/qsar-guidance.pdf

  • ICH M7. (2017). Assessment and control of DNA reactive (mutagenic) impurities in pharmaceuticals to limit potential carcinogenic risk.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jawarkar, S. G., & Game, M. D. (2018). Quantitative structure activity relationship: A tool for new drug design. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. ISSN (Online): 2321–3086.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jhanwarb, et al. (2011). QSAR - Hansch analysis and related approaches in drug design. Pharmacology, 1, 306–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • JRC. (2016). JRC Technical reports; NANoREG harmonised terminology for environmental health and safety assessment of nanomaterials. Retrieved online from https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/nanoreg-harmonised-terminology-environmental-health-and-safety-assessment-nanomaterials

  • Kroes, R., Renwick, A. G., Cheeseman, M., Kleiner, J., Mangelsdorf, I., Piersma, A., et al. (2004). Structure-based thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC): Guidance for application to substances present at low levels in the diet. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 42(1), 65–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapenna S & Worth A (2011), Analysis of the Cramer classification scheme for oral systemic toxicity - implications for its implementation in Toxtree. EUR 24898 EN. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lhasa (2019) ICH M7 Assessment using Derek Nexus. Retrieved online from https://www.lhasalimited.org/products/ICH-M7-assessment-using-derek-nexus.htm

  • LSMA. (2016). Leadscope model applier and the ICH M7 impurities guidelines frequently asked questions. Retrieved online from https://www.leadscope.com/faq/LSMA-ICHM7-FAQs-June2016.pdf.

  • Munro, I. C., Ford, R. A., Kennepohl, E., & Sprenger, J. G. (1996). Correlation of structural class with no-observed-effect levels: A proposal for establishing a threshold of concern. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 34(9), 829–867.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NAFTA. (2011). Technical Working Group on Pesticides (TWG). (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationship [(Q)SAR] guidance document. Retrieved online from http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/testing/49963576.pdf.

  • OECD. (2007). Guidance document on the validation of (Quantitative)Structure-Activity Relationships [(Q)Sar] models. Retrieved online 2019 from http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=env/jm/mono%282007%292&doclanguage=en

  • Piir, G., Kahn, I., García-Sosa, A. T., Sild, S., Ahte, P., & Maran, U. (2018). Best practices for QSAR model reporting: Physical and chemical properties, ecotoxicity, environmental fate, human health, and toxicokinetics endpoints. Environmental Health Perspectives, 126(12), 126001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plošnik, A., Vračko, M., & Dolenc, M. S. (2016). Mutagenic and carcinogenic structural alerts and their mechanisms of action. Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju, 67(3), 169–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, D. M., & Earnshaw, C. G. (1991). Computer prediction of possible toxic action from chemical structure. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 10, 261–273.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jerry L. Bettis Jr. PhD .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bettis, J.L. (2019). An Introduction to (Q)SAR with Respect to Regulatory Submissions. In: Integrated Safety and Risk Assessment for Medical Devices and Combination Products. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35241-7_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics