Certara, a global biosimulation technology-enabled drug development company, launched an e-learning platform through Certara University to satisfy the increased need for education in the burgeoning field of biosimulation or model-based drug development. With the addition of this new on-demand content, scientists from all over the world, with differing skill levels in biosimulation, will be able to access the educational assets developed by Certara’s scientific leaders.

Certara’s gold-standard Phoenix software, for example, is being used by more than 6,000 scientists in 50 countries, including evolving markets such as China.

“The use of biosimulation in drug development has evolved from being a research nicety to a regulatory necessity,” said Certara chief executive officer Edmundo Muniz, MD, PhD. “In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency have recommended biosimulation in more than a dozen draft regulatory guidance documents and its use is now expected by regulators. As sponsor companies increase their use of biosimulation to inform pivotal drug development decisions and interact with regulators, ongoing education is becoming of paramount importance to ensure they optimize their application of this technology.”

“Biosimulation’s rapid adoption has created a growing global demand for education in pharmacometrics theory and technologies,” added Nathan Teuscher, Certara’s vice president of scientific training. “We are proud to be expanding Certara University’s reach by providing e-learning classes so we can continue to share our knowledge and experience with drug development researchers around the world in the most effective formats available.”

Certara University now offers four types of educational opportunities:

In-person, classroom training on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) theory and Certara’s Phoenix® software technology;

Customer-specific training programs on PK/PD theory and Certara’s Phoenix software technology;

Public and private workshops on physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) theory and Simcyp® technology;

On-demand, e-learning courses in PK/PD theory and Certara’s Phoenix software technology.

In addition to the recognized advantages of being able to take a class at the most convenient time with no travel involved, the biosimulation e-learning courses also allow participants to gain access to world-class trainers and learn at their own pace. Applied Cognitive Psychology magazine reports that deeper learning occurs when participants can control the rate at which they move through segmented content. In addition, the Research Institute of America notes that e-learning increases information retention rates by up to 60 per cent. This on-demand format also provides standardized delivery, making sure that all participants benefit from a consistent message and style.