Bioavailability Systems

Bioavailability Systems, LLC was a biotechnology company focused on improving the oral bioavailability of drugs by inhibiting first-pass metabolism. The company's technology utilized furanocoumarins and spiro-ortho-esters, such as BAS 100, derived from grapefruit juice to inhibit the Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. By reducing the degradation of drugs in the intestine and liver, their platform aimed to increase systemic exposure and reduce pharmacokinetic variability for poorly absorbed medications, including HIV protease inhibitors and oncology drugs like erlotinib. The company collaborated with the National Cancer Institute and the University of Cincinnati but became inactive in the late 2000s.