Application of Modeling and Simulation in the Development of Protein Drugs

Application of pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics/clinical response modeling and simulation for biologics drug development

Biologics, specifically monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs, have unique pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics as opposed to small molecules. Under the paradigm of model-based drug development, PK-PD/clinical response models offer critical insight in guiding biologics development at various stages. On the basis of the molecular structure and corresponding properties of biologics, typical mechanism-based [target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD)], physiologically based PK, PK-PD, and dose-response meta-analysis models are summarized. Examples of using TMDD, PK-PD, and meta-analysis in helping starting dose determination in first-in-human studies and dosing regimen optimization in phase II/III trials are discussed. Instead of covering the entirety of model-based biologics development, this review focuses on the guiding principles and the core mathematical descriptions underlying the PK or PK-PD models most used.

PK-PD modeling of protein drugs: implications in assay development

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling is an integral part of the preclinical and clinical development of protein drugs. Bioanalytical data from appropriately selected and well-characterized PK and PD biomarker assays can be incorporated into mechanistic PK-PD models and allow a quantitative relationship between protein drug exposure, target modulation, and biochemical, physiological and pathophysiological effects to be established. The selection of PD biomarkers that assess target engagement and modulation in the extracellular milieu and downstream cellular effects can provide proof-of-mechanism and define the magnitude and duration of target modulation following drug administration. The PK-PD data can provide an important link between magnitude of target modulation and clinical efficacy and safety outcomes, and guide the selection of doses and dosing schedules for clinical trials. In this article, approaches to the selection and development of fit-for-purpose, PK and PD assays for protein drugs are reviewed, and the applications of the assay results in PK-PD models are discussed.