Review highlights advantages of in silico models for drug safety evaluation

Torsade de Pointes (TdP) is an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to life-threatening cardiac issues. Recently, computer simulations, sometimes known as in silico simulations in biomedical research, has been used to evaluate drug safety and cardiac toxicity related to TdP. Hwang et al. present a review highlighting in silico models for the evaluation of the negative cardiac side effects for certain drugs.

“A review of this topic will help researchers who are interested in in silico simulation of drug safety evaluation. This could eventually lead to the reduction of animal sacrifice for preclinical trials in drug development,” said author Eun Bo Shim.

The review goes into detail about current in vitro proarrhythmia assay initiatives proposed by various agencies and recent advancements using in silico simulations with 1D, 2D and 3D models.

“In silico models for drug safety evaluation are being improved rapidly, and it is anticipated that organ level in in silico models would be used in the near future. We are one step closer to the ultimate goal of replacing the preclinical trials in drug development,” said Shim.

The authors emphasize that future studies on minimizing the risk of TdP will need to focus on developing more accurate biomarkers. They believe in silico models will play an important role in doing so.

“In silico simulation is currently used only in cell level for cardiac toxicity evaluation in drug development. Considering electrocardiogram signals observed in organ level are clinically used to confirm cardiac toxicity by drug infusion in the heart, the next steps would be establishing a platform for organ level test using in silico models,” said Shim.

Source: “In silico models for evaluating proarrhythmic risk of drugs,” by Minki Hwang, Chul-Hyun Lim, Chae Hun Leem and Eun Bo Shim, APL Bioengineering (2020). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5132618 .