Simulations Plus Announces Collaboration with Lonza and U.S. FDA to Advance Predictive Frameworks for Complex Oral Drug Products

Mechanistic modeling approach and experimental integration designed to improve early risk identification, strengthen regulatory confidence, and expand AI-enabled workflows connecting data to decision-making

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Simulations Plus, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLP) (“Simulations Plus” or the “Company”), a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development that advances biopharma innovation, today announced a funded research collaboration with Lonza Group AG (“Lonza”), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to serving the healthcare industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop and validate a mechanistic, predictive framework for assessing the in vivo performance of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug products.

“Complex oral formulations such as amorphous solid dispersions present significant scientific and regulatory challenges due to their sensitivity to physiological and manufacturing variables,” said Dr. Viera Lukacova, Chief Scientific Officer of Simulations Plus. “Through this funded collaboration, we aim to integrate advanced in vitro systems with mechanistic modeling to improve prediction of in vivo performance, support regulatory decision-making, and enable more efficient development pathways for these high-impact therapies that deliver faster dissolution and more drug absorption.”

Advancing Mechanistic, Model-Informed Approaches for Complex Products

ASDs are among the most powerful yet complex oral drug delivery systems, with performance influenced by factors such as food intake, gastric pH, formulation composition, and manufacturing processes. Current regulatory approaches often require multiple clinical bioequivalence (BE) studies, which can be resource-intensive while still carrying uncertainty.

The collaboration evaluates whether advanced in vitro dissolution systems—particularly those incorporating dynamic gastrointestinal physiology—combined with mechanistic physiologically based biopharmaceutics modeling (PBBM), can reliably predict key in vivo outcomes, including food effects and the impact of elevated gastric pH conditions.

By establishing and validating these predictive capabilities, the collaboration aims to provide a scientific foundation for reducing reliance on certain clinical BE studies while maintaining the rigor and transparency required by regulators.

Integrating Experimental and Mechanistic Modeling Expertise

The collaboration brings together complementary capabilities across experimental science and computational modeling.

Lonza will lead experimental work, including in vitro dissolution testing under fasted, fed, and elevated gastric pH conditions using advanced systems such as Controlled Transfer Dissolution (CTD), as well as the characterization and, where needed, manufacturing of ASD formulation variants.

Simulations Plus will lead the development and validation of in vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) frameworks using its DDDPlus® and GastroPlus® platforms, translating experimental data into predictions of in vivo pharmacokinetics and supporting virtual bioequivalence assessments. At the same time, it creates new opportunities to extend these capabilities into grounded AI-enabled workflow environments, where data, mechanistic models, and simulation outputs will be more directly connected. The Company will also contribute to interpretation within a regulatory context, ensuring alignment with evolving expectations for model-informed drug development (MIDD).

Francois Ricard, Head of R&D, Lonza Advanced Synthesis, said, “This collaboration reflects Lonza’s commitment to advancing more predictive, science-driven approaches as the leader in the field of bioavailability enhancement. By combining advanced in vitro experimentation with mechanistic modeling, and working closely with Simulations Plus and the FDA, we aim to strengthen the scientific foundation that underpins regulatory decision-making for complex oral drug products. Ultimately, this type of collaboration should help accelerate development for our customers requiring bioequivalence during clinical development.”

Alignment with Regulatory Priorities and Industry Needs

This work is supported in part through FDA funding and includes ongoing engagement with FDA scientists to directly align with regulatory priorities to advance MIDD, modernize bioequivalence assessment for complex products, and reduce unnecessary reliance on human studies. By combining regulatory collaboration with open, non-proprietary data and validated methods based on real-world, FDA-approved ASD products, the initiative is intended to inform future regulatory approaches and support broader adoption of science-based alternatives.

“The industry is moving toward a future where decisions are informed earlier, with greater confidence and scientific transparency,” added Lukacova. “Our role is to ensure those decisions are grounded in validated science—while enabling more efficient ways to connect data, models, and insight.”

About Simulations Plus, Inc.

Simulations Plus is a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development. We create value for our clients by accelerating the discovery, development, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and other products through innovative science-based software and consulting solutions. For more information, visit www.simulations-plus.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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