Coimbatore: A three-day workshop on the use and operation of a software used in clinical trials has got under way at PSG Hospitals here.
The software, GastroPlus, was introduced in the country very recently and it could be used to conduct clinical trials on probable drugs without using too many animals.
GastroPlus, developed by Simulation Plus, reportedly convert the physiology and functions of human body and gastrointestinal (GI) tract into a mathematical equation.
"If we key in population characteristics, it will tell us how the molecule developed into a probable drug will behave in the body and the after-effects it will have. The software has been in use in the US since 2001," said Dr Ramalingam, dean of PSG Hospitals.
"Once we key in the characteristics of a particular population, it will tell us how it will be absorbed in stomach, how long it will remain in blood stream and even the probable side-effects," he further said.
Softwares like these, according to experts, would bring down the use of animals and human beings in clinical trials.
"Based on the response that the software yields we will be able to decide which molecule can be made into a drug. If the result is negative, we will not test them on animals and humans. If it gives us a mediocre answer, we can test them on minimal number of humans," Ramalingam said.
The workshop, which would feature training and demonstration sessions, would conclude on Thursday.
At least 25 doctors attached to pharmaceutical companies and as many students attended the workshop conducted by scientists Michael B. Bolger and Joyce Macwan, of Simulation Plus, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The software, they said, was used by the leading pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer.
The software, GastroPlus, was introduced in the country very recently and it could be used to conduct clinical trials on probable drugs without using too many animals.
GastroPlus, developed by Simulation Plus, reportedly convert the physiology and functions of human body and gastrointestinal (GI) tract into a mathematical equation.
"If we key in population characteristics, it will tell us how the molecule developed into a probable drug will behave in the body and the after-effects it will have. The software has been in use in the US since 2001," said Dr Ramalingam, dean of PSG Hospitals.
"Once we key in the characteristics of a particular population, it will tell us how it will be absorbed in stomach, how long it will remain in blood stream and even the probable side-effects," he further said.
Softwares like these, according to experts, would bring down the use of animals and human beings in clinical trials.
"Based on the response that the software yields we will be able to decide which molecule can be made into a drug. If the result is negative, we will not test them on animals and humans. If it gives us a mediocre answer, we can test them on minimal number of humans," Ramalingam said.
The workshop, which would feature training and demonstration sessions, would conclude on Thursday.
At least 25 doctors attached to pharmaceutical companies and as many students attended the workshop conducted by scientists Michael B. Bolger and Joyce Macwan, of Simulation Plus, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The software, they said, was used by the leading pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer.