A Method for Reducing the Number of Pharmacological Assays

Abstract

THE time-concentration curve for the production of a selected drug effect has a well-known shape, the best expression for which approximates to the formula (C — C_m) (t — t_m) = constant. In fact, there is a minimum concentration C_m below which the drug will not produce the biological action, and it is certain that in many cases there must be a time t_m corresponding to the production of a delayed effect, after the time t needed for the fixation of the drug upon receptors. In some cases C.t = constant gives an approximate fit ; but this merely implies that C_m and t_m are so small as not to produce a measurable error.