A standardised framework to identify optimal animal models for efficacy assessment in drug development

Abstract

IntroductionPoor translation of efficacy data derived from animal models is a potential contributor to costly and unnecessary attrition in clinical trials.\n\nObjectivesTo develop a tool to assess, validate and compare the clinical translatability of animal models used for the preliminary assessment of efficacy.\n\nDesign and ResultsWe conducted an exploratory literature search to identify the key aspects to validate animal models. Eight aspects (Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Genetic, Biochemistry, Aetiology, Histology, Pharmacology and Endpoints) were identified for which questions were drafted to evaluate the different faces of the human disease simulation. Features of the framework include standardised instructions, a weighting and scoring system to compare models as well as contextualising factors regarding model similarity and evidence uncertainty. We included a quality assessment of the internal validity of drug intervention studies included in the Pharmacological validation section for both effective and ineffective drugs in humans. A web-based survey was conducted with experts from different stakeholders to gather input on the framework. Finally, we present a case study of a preliminary validation and comparison of two animal models for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (mdx mouse and GRMD dog) and Diabetes Type 2 (ZDF rat and db/db mouse). We show that there are significant differences between the mdx mouse and the GRMD dog, the latter mimicking the human condition to a greater extent than the mouse despite the considerable lack of published data. In DT2, both the ZDF rat and the db/db mouse are comparable with minor differences in pathophysiology.\n\nConclusionsFIMD facilitates drug development by serving as the basis to select the most relevant model that can provide meaningful and translatable results to progress drug candidates to the clinic.