Simcyp launches virtual "lab rat" for drug development
Simcyp, the UK-based specialist in modelling and simulation of drug-drug interactions in virtual human populations, has launched Simcyp Rat 2008, a "virtual animal" for in silico prediction of drug kinetics.
Simcyp, the UK-based specialist in modelling and simulation of drug-drug interactions in virtual human populations, has launched Simcyp Rat 2008, a "virtual animal" for in silico prediction of drug kinetics.
The Simcyp Rat simulator contains databases of commonly used drugs which allow the properties of new medicines to be compared with medicines that are already available. The simulator is available to members of the Simcyp Consortium, which includes nine of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
"We have a great understanding of rat physiology, which has allowed us to create algorithms and models that represent a virtual rat," said Professor Amin Rostami-Hodjegan, director of research and development at Simcyp. "Research scientists can now use their drug development data in simulations to predict how their medicine will behave in virtual animals.
"The system can even mimic real life experimental scenarios including whether rats are fed at the time of dosing and the amount of fluid that is administered with an oral dose."
"There is growing support within the pharmaceutical industry for alternative approaches to reduce, refine and replace animal testing while still maintaining high standards of research," added Dr Steve Toon, executive director at Simcyp. "Modelling and simulation is another tool which is now available to researchers who are trying to achieve these goals."