Drug Combination Modeling: Methods and Applications in Drug Development

J Clin Pharmacol. 2023 Feb;63(2):151-165. doi: 10.1002/jcph.2128. Epub 2022 Sep 11.

Abstract

Combination therapies have become increasingly researched and used in the treatment and management of complex diseases due to their ability to increase the chances for better efficacy and decreased toxicity. To evaluate drug combinations in drug development, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between drugs in combination can be quantified using mathematical models; however, it can be difficult to deduce which models to use and how to use them to aid in clinical trial simulations to simulate the effect of a drug combination. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the various methods used to evaluate combination drug interaction for use in clinical trial development and a practical guideline on how combination modeling can be used in the settings of clinical trials.

Keywords: clinical trial simulation; combination modeling; drug antagonism; drug interactions; drug synergy; drug therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Development*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical*

Substances

  • Drug Combinations