What is QSP Modeling?
Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) integrates traditional pharmacological modeling (e.g., PK/PD modeling) and mechanistic systems biology modeling (e.g., biochemical network modeling) to better understand how drugs interact with biological targets, affect biochemical pathways, and how biological systems and diseases respond to drug intervention. The resulting mathematical models can thus integrate knowledge and data on drug pharmacokinetics, drug mechanism-of-action (MoA), biological pathways, and disease processes to better understand drug effects and treatment potential.
QSP models are particularly useful for in silico hypothesis testing and prediction, supporting drug discovery and development decisions in areas such as target selection, dose optimization, and precision medicine.
The following diagram gives a reasonable overview of QSP models and an associated modeling workflow:
[Figure 1 of Helmlinger et al. 2019, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology: An Exemplar Model‐Building Workflow With Applications in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Oncology Drug Development, CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol., 8: 380-395 | reproduced here without modification under Creative Commons License]
This diagram shows a systems biology modeling workflow, which is also highly applicable to QSP modeling:
[Figure 2 of Guimera et al., Systems modelling ageing: from single senescent cells to simple multi-cellular models, Essays Biochem (2017) 61 (3): 369–377. | reproduced here without modification under CC BY License]
Learn More
External Resources on QSP:
- What Is Quantitative Systems Pharmacology? | MathWorks Discovery Page
- Benefits & Uses of QSP in Drug Development | Allucent Blog Post
- Mathematical Sandbox: How Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Steers Safer, Faster Drug Development | Pfizer News Article
- Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP): Past, Present and Future | Certara YouTube Video
- History and Future Perspectives on the Discipline of Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Modeling and Its Applications | Academic Review Article - Open Access