Applications of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling and Simulation During Regulatory Review

TLDR

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling predicts drug exposure in humans by accounting for intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and its use is growing throughout drug development. This report reviews recent cases where PBPK modeling informed regulatory decisions during drug review. The review draws on Center for Drug Evaluation and Research analyses of several IND and NDA submissions received between July 2008 and June 2010. PBPK modeling helped determine the need for specific clinical studies, study designs, and labeling language, while also highlighting challenges and suggesting strategies for broader adoption.

Abstract

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation is a tool that can help predict the pharmacokinetics of drugs in humans and evaluate the effects of intrinsic (e.g., organ dysfunction, age, genetics) and extrinsic (e.g., drug-drug interactions) factors, alone or in combinations, on drug exposure. The use of this tool is increasing at all stages of the drug development process. This report reviews recent instances of the use of PBPK in decision-making during regulatory review. The examples are based on Center for Drug Evaluation and Research reviews of several submissions for investigational new drugs (INDs) and new drug applications (NDAs) received between July 2008 and June 2010. The use of PBPK modeling and simulation facilitated the following types of decisions: the need to conduct specific clinical pharmacology studies, specific study designs, and appropriate labeling language. The report also discusses the challenges encountered when PBPK modeling and simulation were used in these cases and recommends approaches to facilitating full utilization of this tool.