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Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK)

At Ulysses Neuroscience Ltd., we provide fully integrated DMPK solutions to support your CNS drug development programmes. With GLP-compliant platforms in Ireland (HPRA-accredited) and North America (AAALAC-accredited), our studies are conducted to the highest standards of scientific quality and regulatory compliance.

Our pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) services are designed to provide meaningful data to inform dose selection, exposure-response relationships, and translational biomarker development. We offer a full suite of preclinical capabilities, from compound administration and sampling to advanced LC-MS/MS analysis.

Why partner with ULYSSES?

  • Access to multi-route administration and multi-matrix sampling

  • Validated LC-MS/MS platforms for CNS drug quantification

  • Integration of PK with PD, biomarker, and EEG endpoints

  • Expertise in psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and neuroinflammation

  • Scientific support from study design to data interpretation

Dosing Routes and Compound Administration

We support all standard and advanced routes of administration in rodents and dogs, tailored to your compound’s properties and study objectives:

  • Intraperitoneal (i.p.)
  • Subcutaneous (s.c.)
  • Intravenous (i.v.) – bolus and infusion
  • Oral gavage (p.o.)
  • Intranasal (i.n.)
  • Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)
  • Intrathecal (i.t.)

We also have specialised expertise in administering biologics, including:

  • Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) via ICV or IT injection
  • Viral vectors for gene delivery (e.g., AAV, lentivirus)
  • Peptides and proteins

Sampling Capabilities

Species and Sampling Capabilities

We perform PK and PD studies in rats, mice, and dogs, offering flexible and ethical sampling protocols. Our capabilities include:

  • Serial and terminal blood sampling
  • Serial and terminal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection
  • Brain and peripheral tissue harvesting (rodents only)
  • Integration with behavioral, EEG, and biomarker endpoints

This multi-species approach enables tailored study designs for your compound’s pharmacological profile and regulatory needs.

Analytical Platform

We conduct quantitative bioanalysis of your test compound using LCUHRMS (Ultra HighResolution Mass Spectrometry) and LCMS/MS, providing exceptional sensitivity and selectivity.

  • Instrument: Thermo Q Exactive coupled with Ultimate 3000 UPLC
  • Sample types: Plasma, CSF, and tissue extracts
  • Matrix-matched calibration curves for accurate quantification
  • Analytes: Small molecules, psychedelic compounds, and reference standards
  • Internal standards: e.g. Diclofenac, Glipizide (validated for CNS matrices)
  • Precision: MS Resolution up to 140,000; PRM/t-SIM detection

Thermo Q Exactive with Ultimate 3000 UPLC – Internal Standard Detection. Representative chromatogram showing detection of internal standards using our LC-UHRMS platform. The first peak corresponds to Diclofenac, and the second to Glipizide, both used for matrix-matched quantification in CNS samples.

Integrated PK/PD Study Designs

We design studies to align pharmacokinetic profiles with pharmacodynamic endpoints, including:

  • Behavioral testing (e.g., FST, PPI, EZM, ASR)
  • EEG markers (e.g., REM suppression, gamma oscillations, ASSR)
  • Biomarker profiling from plasma, CSF, and brain tissue

Our biomarker platforms include:

  • Luminex 200: high-throughput multiplex immunoassays for inflammatory, metabolic, and neurodegenerative markers
  • MESO QuickPlex SQ 120MM: ultra-sensitive electrochemiluminescence multiplex assays for cytokines, neurodegeneration proteins, and phospho-proteins
  • Li-Cor Odyssey CLx: near-infrared Western blot imaging for synaptic proteins, cytoskeletal markers, and microtubule post-translational modifications

These platforms allow precise quantification of target engagement and pharmacodynamic response, enhancing translational relevance and supporting data-driven decisions for early clinical development.

Download Our Capabilities

Biomarker

Cell Culture

Behavioural Assays

EEG in Rodents

DMPK

DEEs in Mice

Psychedelics Research

Depression Models

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