*VPH: Virtual Physiological Human Institute
The European Medicine Agency has recently published a document that describes its strategy until 2025: Find here
The EMA proposed strategy recognises the importance of emerging technologies in general and modelling and simulation, also known as in silico methods, in particular. However, the document tends to stress the value of in silico methods almost exclusively in connection with the reduction of animal experimentation.
While the VPH Institute agrees that this is a relevant application for such methods, it is not the only one and, according to the VPH Institute, likely not the most impactful one for the patient and for the industry. The term In Silico Trials indicates a number of use cases, not only related to pre-clinical evaluation, but also to the reduction, refinement, and in some cases even replacement of clinical trials.
The VPH Institute together with the Avicenna Alliance, the Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine and the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna have drafted an open letter, which will be sent to Prof Guido Rasi - the Director of EMA to raise their collective voices on this regard.
They wish to collect signatures on the document by as many experts in academia and industry as possible to make sure the industry voice is heard. And they encourage you to take a minute of your time to sign the petition and help them raise awareness to your colleagues on this matter.
You can find the open letter and sign the petition here.
What are your thoughts on this? Is the VPH correct, or is the EMA right in its strategy?
I look forward to reading your comments and hearing you opinions!
Zoe
Zoe Buss
Community Manager | The IET