Medical Book Review

Handbook of Drug Metabolism, Second Edition
Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Edited by Paul G. Pearson and Larry C. Wienkers
2008 Informa Healthcare
ISBN: 9781420076479

List Price: USD 350
Hardcover
Available at Informa Healthcare Books

Reviewer:
James J. Yun, MBBS
Immunology Registrar
Liverpool Hospital
Australia

Description
The study of drug metabolism is an important part of pharmacokinetics and has an indispensable role in drug research and development. This is a comprehensive book that covers major aspects of drug metabolism from the principles to its applications in drug development. It is written at a level that would be appropriate as a primary source for a course in drug metabolism with sufficient details to make it a useful reference for scientists in the field.

Purpose
This second edition of Handbook of Drug Metabolism provides an updated review of relevant topics in drug metabolism. It is written as a textbook for students in drug metabolism and as a reference for academics and scientists involved in drug research and development.

Audience
This book will be suitable for pharmacology students, academics with special interest in pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, and scientists involved in drug research and development. However, I suspect that most clinicians will find this book irrelevant or difficult as it has little clinical application and assumes that the reader will be familiar with chemistry and pharmacology.

Features
The book is divided into four parts. The first part deals with fundamental aspects of drug metabolism with excellent reviews of the evolution of drug metabolism research, pharmacokinetics of drug metabolites, biotransformation mechanisms and relevant liver structure and functions. The second part covers factors that affect drug metabolism. This section includes pharmacogenetics, inhibition and ontogeny of drug metabolising enzymes and sites of extra hepatic metabolism. The third part provides comprehensive reviews of current techniques and methods in studying drug metabolism. The last part outlines applications of metabolism studies in drug discovery and development. Overall, the topics are well covered and articles are well written and up-to-date. The illustrations are appropriate and easy to follow, the tables are comprehensive and the references are extensive.

Assessment
This book is highly recommendable for those who seek a textbook that contains comprehensive reviews in the field of drug metabolism. However, it does assume that the reader will have some background knowledge in pharmacology. Therefore, I anticipate that this book will mainly appeal to those who are involved in the drug metabolism studies in various capacities.