The “One‐Step” approach for QT analysis increases the sensitivity of nonclinical QTc analysis

Whether a compound prolongs cardiac repolarization independent of changes in beat rate is a critical question in drug research and development. Current practice is to resolve this in two steps. First, the QT interval is corrected for the influence of rate and then statistical significance is tested. There is renewed interest in improving the sensitivity of nonclinical corrected QT interval (QTc) assessment with modern studies having greater data density than previously utilized. The current analyses examine the effects of moxifloxacin or vehicle on the QT interval in nonhuman primates (NHPs) using a previously described one‐step method. The primary end point is the statistical sensitivity of the assessment. Publications suggest that for a four animal crossover (4 × 4) in NHPs the minimal detectable difference (MDD) is greater than or equal to 10 ms, whereas in an eight animal crossover the MDD is ~6.5 ms. Using the one‐step method, the MDD for the four animal NHP assessments was 3 ms. In addition, the one‐step model accounted for day‐to‐day differences in the heart rate and QT‐rate slope as well as drug‐induced changes in these parameters. This method provides an increase in the sensitivity and reduces the number of animals necessary for detecting potential QT change and represents “best practice” in nonclinical QTc assessment in safety pharmacology studies.