PROTACs at Target: PBPK-PD Tools Linking Exposure to Effect
October 15,2025 5:00 PMCET / 11:00 AM ET
Overview
PROTACs are a promising class of drugs, but their size and complexity create unique optimization challenges. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK)and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD)modeling provides a framework to explore how these molecules reach and accumulate in tissues, how much unbound drug is available at the site of action, and how this can ultimately be linked to their pharmacological effects.
In this webinar, we will:
Discuss how PBPK can offer deeper insights into their distribution and intracellular exposure.
Outline the building blocks of PBPK models and how they can be adapted to the specific challenges of PROTACs.
Explore how PBPK can be connected with PK/PD thinking to better understand drug action, response dynamics, and target vulnerability.
Highlight the potential of these approaches to support early discovery decisions, from prioritizing compounds to shaping experimental design.
By the end of the session, you’ll gain an appreciation of how PBPK, when combined with PD concepts, can help navigate the complexity of PROTAC discovery and guide smarter, more informed development strategies.
The webinar will be recorded and made available on demand.
Register now!
Experts
Meet Our Speakers
Emile Chen
PKPD Independent Consulant Formely Director of System Modeling and Translational Biology at GSK
Dr. Emile Chen is a PK/PD scientist and independent consultant with over 30 years of experience in both early discovery and late-stage development. Until March 2024, he worked in the System Modeling and Translational Biology group at GSK, where he applied PBPK, mechanistic PK/PD, QSP, and machine learning to address project challenges and improve R&D productivity.
He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. He began his pharmaceutical career at Hoffmann-La Roche in 1993 and joined GSK in 1996, where he held roles of increasing responsibility in ADME and PK groups.
Dr. Chen is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Pharmacy, where he teaches a master’s-level course on preclinical drug discovery and development. He regularly leads interactive workshops that promote kinetic thinking and the use of modeling to integrate preclinical and clinical data for better decision-making.
David Cebrian
Director of DMPK at Selvita
David Cebrian has 17+ year or academic and industry DMPK experience in different modalities from small molecules to biologicals and disease areas, mainly oncology and infectious diseases, with more than 7 years of experience in PBPK and PK/PD modeling and simulation. He has participated in the nomination of 5 clinical candidates and 15+ publications.
Simone Esposito
Associate Director of DMPK at Selvita
Simone Esposito has 15+ years of academic and industry DMPK experience in multiple therapeutic areas and modalities, having contributed to the discovery of 4 clinical candidates and authored 25+ publications. His main research interests include PBPK and PK/PD modeling, drug metabolism and bioanalysis.
