Book excerpt: In this new edition of a bestseller, all the contents have been updated and new material has been added, especially in the areas of toxicity testing and high throughput analysis. The authors, all of them employed at Pfizer in the discovery and development of new active substances, discuss the significant parameters and processes important for the absorption, distribution and retention of drug compounds in the body, plus the potential problems created by their transformation into toxic byproducts. They cover everything from the fundamental principles right up to the impact of pharmacokinetic parameters on the discovery of new drugs. While aimed at all those dealing professionally with the development and application of pharmaceutical substances, the readily comprehensible style makes this book equally suitable for students of pharmacy and related subjects.