Such computational models are also commonly referred to as drug models or input/output models. The traditional approach to generating these computational models is labour intensive and prone to extensive delays caused by human error.
The method aims to cut down on time wasting by employing a graphical user interface, which allows users to place and connect objects representing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic elements.
As the objects are placed and connected, they are converted into an internal format representing the statements of the corresponding computational model.
These statements are actively presented to the user in a summarised form, as the computational model is constructed, to enable immediate verification of the model.
This summarised form may be a surface syntax showing key equations that make up the model, or they may be graphs of behaviour of one or more user-selected variables.
"The Food and Drug Administration's Critical Path Initiative calls for more PK/PD modelling to streamline drug development and approval," said Shawn O'Connor, president, CEO, and chairman of Pharsight.
"As a result, our pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients must find more productive modelling tools. The graphical and intuitive interface covered by our patent, which we have implemented in Pharsight Trial Simulator, allows them to achieve increased modelling productivity."
In the case of generating a drug model, typically, a researcher will review all the information available concerning the way in which the drug behaves in the body of interest.
In some cases, the researcher might also draw some rough sketches of compartments representing the various organs in the body and showing the flow of the drug through those organs.
Then the researcher must figure out the differential equations that model that drug behaviour, or alternatively, solve the differential equations using closed form solutions and determine the exponential equations.
Finally, the equations must be translated into software, which in turn must be debugged.
More information on the innovation is available >here.