Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation: Highlights from the 2024 Simcyp Consortium

From modest beginnings to global leader in drug development, the Simcyp Consortium’s journey has been transformative. The 25th Annual Simcyp Consortium, held September 24-26, 2024, in Heathrow, London, marked a significant milestone in the world of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation.?

Since its inception, the Simcyp Consortium has fostered collaboration and scientific advancement, influencing drug development worldwide. As a pre-competitive platform, it brings together leading pharmaceutical scientists to advance the role of modeling and simulation in decision-making.?

This year’s event gathered scientists, researchers, and leaders from regulatory agencies—including the FDA—alongside experts from academia and industry. Together, they celebrated 25 years of innovation, reflected on its impact, and explored the future of drug development.?

The Road to 25 Years: A Journey of Impact?

Dr. Amin Rostami-Hodjegan , Chief Scientific Officer at Certara, opened the event by acknowledging the consortium’s remarkable journey: “Reaching the 25th anniversary of the Simcyp Consortium underscores the importance of our mission and the impact of our work on global drug development.”?

What began as a visionary idea has evolved into a critical pillar of global pharmaceutical development.?

Attendees highlighted the Consortium’s influence on PBPK’s role in drug development, especially in drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies, reducing the need for exposing healthy volunteers, and addressing global health challenges like malaria and river blindness. PBPK’s growing role in regulatory label claims as an alternative to clinical trials was another key focus, as well as its use early in development for dose projections and formulation analysis.?

Addressing Unmet Needs: Special Populations

A key theme of the consortium meeting was PBPK’s role in improving treatment outcomes for underrepresented patient groups. Sessions on special populations showcased how modeling optimizes drug treatments for globally diverse populations, emphasizing the need for refined models to enhance regulatory decisions while prioritizing patient outcomes.

Pioneering PBPK Modeling: Latest Breakthroughs?

The consortium’s reputation as a leader in PBPK modeling was reinforced through the groundbreaking work presented. While the first day offered moments of reflection and celebration, the second day was dedicated to the latest advancements in PBPK technology. Masoud Jamei , SVP of Simcyp Research and Development, reaffirmed the Consortium’s commitment to innovation: “The Simcyp Consortium continues to push the boundaries of PBPK modeling. Our commitment to scientific excellence is evident in the advancements presented.”?

These innovations expand PBPK applications, introduce new therapeutic modalities, and drive faster, more efficient drug discovery. “The progress we’ve seen in PBPK modeling is a testament to the collaboration and innovation of our dedicated members,” noted Felix Stader , Senior Scientist at Certara.??

A Glimpse into the Future?

The final day concluded with a forward-looking session where members shared insights on the future of PBPK modeling, addressed emerging challenges, and outlined the next steps for the Simcyp Simulator. The enthusiasm and dedication of attendees affirmed that the future of PBPK will be driven by collaboration and innovation within the Consortium.

“Very few scientific consortiums have shown as dynamic an impact as the Simcyp Consortium over the years, especially on the PBPK applications in model-informed drug discovery and development,” said Kunal Taskar , Director, Global Head PBPK Modeling at GSK and chair of the Simcyp Consortium Members Discussion Group (SMDG)?

Certara is proud to support the Consortium’s ongoing journey. We extend our deepest thanks to the members for their participation and collaboration in celebrating our 25th anniversary.?

To learn more about the Simcyp Consortium, visit our website.