Computer simulation on biomedical products: a true possibility?

Computer simulation is broadly used during the development of several critical products such as civil aircraft or nuclear power plants. However, the healthcare industry still mainly rely on long and complex experiments in vitro, on animals, and then on patients, which causes a deep cost pressure – investment that could be used on innovation. The technical term is ‘in silico clinical trials’, which refers to: “The use of individualised computer simulation in the development or regulatory evaluation of a medicinal product, medical device, or medical intervention.”

According to researchgate, Avicenna Action, funded by the European Commission, has engaged 525 experts from 35 countries, including 22 of the 28 members of the European Union, in an 18-month consensus process, to produce this research and technological development roadmap. Providing an overview of where in silico clinical trials technologies are already used; where else they could be used; highlighting barriers that prevent wider adoption.

Research funding agencies, stakeholders, private companies, the academy, the government itself with its regulatory bodies across the world should embrace innovation and write a framework of standards and protocols required to meet safety and efficacy for this type of technology. The European Commission is certainly taking the first step towards a broad conversation inviting experts for several different countries to the table.