Virtual clinical trials technology developed at the Jagiellonian University
ToxComp technology is a computer system for assessment of cardiotoxicity of drugs, developed at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University (Medical College). The technology has just been purchased by a British company.
"In silico platform for the cardiotoxicity assessment" ToxComp is a multi-technology platform consisting, among others, of a computer application that simulates the impact of drugs on the human heart muscle cells. It allows to carry out virtual clinical trials, which assess the effectiveness and safety of chemical compounds potentially intended for use as medicaments.
ToxComp is the work of research team led by Dr. Sebastian Polal of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College. The whole process leading to the signing and performance of the contract is overseen by the university centre for innovation (CITTRU), responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property created at the Jagiellonian University. Work on the system began in 2010 and was funded from by the National Centre for Research and Development.
"Modular computer system uses the results of the simulation of human physiology cardiomyocytes, heart muscle cells, enabling the assessment of chemical substances at the population level" - said Dr. Polak.
According to Dr. Polak, this is possible with the so-called virtual population generator which compiles virtual population community to take into account interindividual variability, possibility of different responses to the same substance. This approach allows to assess the risk of potential toxicity without involving people and increasing health and financial risk of the failure of the work on medicinal preparations.
British company Simcyp, which bought the technology of researchers from the Jagiellonian University, intends to introduce it to the commercial market. The company specializes in the development of IT tools used in drug research.
"Negotiations with the company began in the second half of 2012 - said Dr. Radosław Rudź of CITTRU, one of the Jagiellonian University representatives responsible for business development of the project. - From the beginning, Simcyp was not interested in acquiring a license to use the technology. The company wanted to have exclusive rights and develop it."
He added that further research and development work on the project will be carried out in Poland by the team of Dr. Polak. It will continue for two more years.
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