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In Silico Modelling: The Future of Drug Development

The ERAMET project is transforming the development and approval of way drugs for rare and paediatric diseases. are developed and approved. With 30 million people affected by rare conditions across Europe, including 700,000 in Belgium, finding effective treatments is critical. However, small patient populations and limited research funding make drug approval challenging. Led by Professor Flora Musuamba Tshinanu, ERAMET uses in silico modelling and artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up and improve drug evaluations.

Overcoming the Challenges of Rare Diseases
Rare diseases affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 people, but in total, they impact millions. Many, such as ataxia and sickle cell anaemia, lack approved treatments. Traditional clinical trials, which require large patient groups, are difficult for these diseases due to small populations. This leads to incomplete data, making regulatory approval more complicated.

In Silico Modelling: The Future of Drug Development
ERAMET is advancing in silico methods – computer simulations that model drug effects in virtual environments. These simulations allow researchers to predict how drugs will work without needing large clinical trials. By using data from more common diseases, ERAMET helps predict how drugs might behave in rare disease populations, setting the foundation for incorporating this data into regulatory decisions.

AI Enhancing Drug Approval
AI plays a vital role in ERAMET, refining in silico predictions and automating data analysis. This combination speeds up the approval process, reduces the need for traditional trials, and ensures more reliable results, ultimately accelerating drug approval for orphan and paediatric diseases.

Global Impact and Future Goals
ERAMET has already gained global attention, presenting at major international conferences. By shortening the time it takes to bring drugs to market, ERAMET hopes to improve access to life-saving treatments. The project also reduces the cost of drug approval by decreasing reliance on large-scale clinical trials.

ERAMET is paving the way for faster, more accurate drug approvals for rare and paediatric diseases. Through in silico modelling and AI, the project offers a promising solution for quicker access to life-changing treatments, prioritising patient outcomes and improving quality of life.

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