Biosimulation
Biosimulation is a common umbrella term in systems biology for the numerical simulation of biological systems. The aim of biosimulations is to depict a biological process in a model in such a way that it can predict the behavior of a system (e.g. the reaction of an organism to a certain substance). Furthermore, a model can also serve to uncover knowledge gaps or to plan new experiments .
The basis of a model are experimentally obtained data, but also analytically derived knowledge about the process to be modeled. Due to the complexity of many biological systems, simplified models are often used.
Biosimulation in pharmacy
Biosimulation is particularly important in pharmacy when developing active ingredients. Since the average probability that a drug candidate will ultimately be approved is only 11%, biosimulations help to identify unsuccessful candidates at an early stage of development. Furthermore, biosimulation can help to use information in data that has already been collected more efficiently and, for example, to create predictions based on it. Models are also helpful to plan experiments and studies and to validate hypotheses.
By using biosimulations, costs can be saved and the number of animal and human studies required can be reduced, which is also in line with the so-called 3R principle and EU Directive 86/609 / EEC. The former calls for the reduction (Engl. R (Engl. Eduction) and replacing r eplacement) (Engl. Animal testing and improving r efinement) the methods used. The latter directive deals with the protection of animals, which are used for experiments and other scientific purposes. In future, it will be possible to replace in vivo test procedures with in silico tests (biosimulations).
Biosimulation is already successful in later development phases. The Hoffmann-La Roche company was able to obtain approval for the hepatitis C drug “Pegasys” for a specific group of patients on the basis of biosimulations.
Research project
Due to the importance of biosimulation for drug development, there are a number of industrial and government-funded research projects that aim to simulate the metabolism of an active ingredient :
- BioSim project; funded by the EU in the 6th framework program
- NSR Physiome Project
- Hepatosys, funded by the German BMBF
- MaCS Magdeburg Center for Systems Biology
Individual evidence
- ↑ M. Bertau, E. Mosekilde, HV Westerhoff (Ed.): Biosimulation in Drug Development. 1st edition Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 2008
- ^ I. Kola, J. Landis: Can the pharmaceutical industry reduce attrition rates? In: Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. No. 3, 2004, pp. 711-715
- ↑ J. Richmond: The 3Rs - Past, Present and Future. In: Scand.J.Lab.Anim.Sci No. 2 (27), 2000, pp. 84-92
- ↑ Directive 86/609 / EEC (PDF)
- ^ Models that take drugs. In: The Economist (US) June 11, 2005