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Many animal models of disease are suboptimal in their representation of human diseases and lack of predictive power in the success of pivotal human trials. In the context of repurposing drugs with known human safety, it is sometimes appropriate to conduct the “last experiment first,” that is, progressing directly to human investigations. However, there are not accepted criteria for when to proceed straight to humans to test a new indication. We propose a specific set of criteria to guide the decision-making around when to initiate human proof of principle without preclinical efficacy studies in animal models. This approach could accelerate the transition of novel therapeutic approaches to human applications.

A simple and mild method for decarboxylative bromination of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed using diphosphorus tetraiodide in combination with tetraethylammonium bromide (TEAB) at room temperature. High yields of the corresponding bromoalkenes were obtained.