Certara Donates Software to University of Maryland to Develop New Approaches to Drug Development

February 19, 2015

Gift of Phoenix® software licenses, workshop assistance, and training renews the strong partnership established between the two organizations in 2012

PRINCETON, NJ – Feb. 19, 2015 – Certara®, the global biosimulation technology-enabled drug development and drug safety consulting company, today announced that it has donated Phoenix software and licenses to the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Center for Translational Medicine (CTM) for teaching and research purposes. Certara is also providing the CTM with training and workshop assistance. The program goal is to combine CTM’s research, clinical, and educational expertise with Certara’s IT infrastructure to create new and innovative approaches to improve population health.

“On our own, it is difficult to move scientific concepts for new drugs and improved drug delivery techniques into the hands of those who need them most – the patients,” said Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, professor and dean of the School of Pharmacy and executive director of University Regional Partnerships at a reception hosted at the School on Jan. 29 to thank Certara for its support. “Working together and harnessing our collective ingenuity, we are more likely to make a significant and real impact on human health. I am proud of the CTM’s partnership with Certara and offer my thanks and gratitude for the support that Certara has shown to the School.”

About two years ago, Certara selected the School of Pharmacy’s CTM as one of its U.S. Phoenix Centers of Excellence, in recognition of the establishment of the School’s online Master’s in Pharmacometrics program, which currently has 46 postgraduate students enrolled. The students gain valuable practical experience by training on Certara’s state-of-the art software, and Certara gains direct feedback on how to improve it. As a result, this industry-academic collaboration is helping to train the next wave of pharmacometrics scientists. 

“We are delighted to continue this successful partnership with Certara. Pharmacometrics is such an important and growing field for researchers, sponsors, and regulators alike that it offers excellent career opportunities for our students,” said Joga Gobburu, PhD, professor of pharmacy practice and science at the School of Pharmacy and executive director of the CTM. “Biosimulation can be used to determine appropriate drug doses, labeling, and clinical trial design. It can also be employed to investigate drug-drug interactions and explore otherwise untestable populations, such as pediatric patients and those with rare diseases or complex co-morbidities.”

“Biosimulation can assist in clinical trial design and drug dose selection for late-phase trials based on data collected in earlier phases,” added Certara Chief Marketing Officer Ellen Leinfuss, speaking at the reception. “Biosimulation can also leverage vast amounts of existing data to determine the likely impact of drugs across different populations with great accuracy. Essentially, biosimulation serves to optimize and increase the predictability of the most crucial R&D and regulatory decisions, helping to bring new, safer therapies to patients more efficiently.”

Certara’s Phoenix Centers of Excellence Program is an initiative designed to enhance research and training in pharmacometrics at several elite academic centers.

Certara’s Phoenix software platform is used to manage, analyze and report pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicokinetic data. It is employed by pharmaceutical, veterinary and academic researchers, along with the FDA and other global regulatory agencies, to understand the safety and efficacy profile of drugs in development.

About Certara
Certara is the global biosimulation technology-enabled drug development and drug safety consulting company. Its customers include hundreds of biopharmaceutical companies around the globe, together with several regulatory agencies. Certara’s solutions, which span the discovery, preclinical and clinical stages of drug development, enable data-driven decisions, leading to more precisely designed trials with a reduced risk of failure and improved subject safety. For more information, visit www.certara.com.

About the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Established in 1841, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is a thriving center for professional and graduate education, pharmaceutical care, research, and community service. We create the future of pharmacy by pioneering new roles for pharmacists in advanced clinical practice and conducting cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development, comparative effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes, and disease management. Our faculty inspire excellence in our more than 800 students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows through a contemporary curriculum, innovative educational experiences, and strategic professional relationships. We are critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and leaders who are sought for our expertise.

Certara Contact:
Teresa A. Bradford, 919-852-4644
Senior Director, Marketing
teresa.bradford@certara.com

Media Contacts:
Lisa Osborne, 206-992-5245
Rana Healthcare Solutions
lisa@ranahealth.com

Karen Robinson, 410-706-0023
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
karobinson@umaryland.edu