Simulations Plus, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLP), the leading provider of modeling and simulation solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemicals, and consumer goods industries, today announced that it has received notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it has been awarded a new funded cooperative agreement, for $250,000 per year for up to two years, to integrate drug product quality attributes into the mechanistic Transdermal Compartmental Absorption and Transit (TCAT™) model in GastroPlus™.
Dr. Viera Lukacova, director – simulation sciences, said: “We have had the pleasure of working with the FDA over the past 4 years on different funded research programs, and we are delighted to have earned their confidence, through a competitive bidding process, to extend our relationship with another project. This grant award will focus on the incorporation of drug product quality attributes into dermal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models developed for dermatological topical dosage forms and transdermal delivery systems. The TCAT model in GastroPlus is already heavily utilized within the different markets we serve to support internal research and development activities. We expect the developments under this new agreement will aid the FDA and other regulatory agencies in developing guidelines and policies in the area of drug absorption from dermal products.”
Under the cooperative agreement, FDA scientific and program staff will assist and participate in project activities in a partnership role with a number of leading pharmaceutical, generic, cosmetic, and contract research organizations as part of the newly formed Consortium for Dermal Absorption Modeling (CDAM). Dr. Jessica Spires, senior scientist II, will serve as principal investigator and have primary responsibility for the scientific, technical, and programmatic aspects of the award, and for the day-to-day management of the project.
John DiBella, president – Lancaster division, added: “This new award nicely complements the activities we are doing as part of the previously announced funded collaboration with the large European consortium, and the end product will result in a comprehensive, cross-market dermal absorption/PBPK modeling platform that supports product development and risk assessment activities. Simulations Plus will own all intellectual property developed within the GastroPlus program, and updates will be integrated into future versions and made available to clients as an optional add-on module. We cannot wait to get started working with the FDA and CDAM on this important project.”
Funding for this collaboration is made possible by the Food and Drug Administration through grant 1U01FD006526-01. Views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.