As part of our support and financing program, we had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Fahima Nekka professor and researcher at the NSERC Industrial Chair in Pharmacometrics – Université de Montréal.
Can you give us a brief description of the project you funded?
“Behind every technological advance is science. As a mathematician working in the pharmaceutical sector, my aim is to harness quantitative information to improve prediction. Faced with the need for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, we develop computational tools. These tools, based on mathematical and computer models, aim to interpret biological and pharmacological mechanisms, thus predicting the impact of drugs on the human organism.
Our recent work includes the development of decision-support tools for simulating therapeutic protocols and their outcomes. These simulations experiment with untested conditions, exploring various dosing regimens and drug combinations. This approach greatly supports clinicians, offering them insight into the consequences of different dosages and drug combinations, thus improving prescription accuracy.”
How did the project come about?
“The origin of this project goes back to my training in pure mathematics, where I was confronted with abstract logic and the analytical mind. When I had the opportunity to work in pharmacy, I was struck by the difference in character between these two fields. Mathematics embodies rigor and abstraction, while pharmacy offers a more intuitive and experiential approach. This intriguing fusion of two distinct worlds gave birth to pharmacometrics.
My involvement began when pharmacists and doctors presented me with concrete problems. For example, a psychiatrist was faced with the complexity of prescribing for ADHD patients. It was from these practical challenges that we began to develop applications. Gradually, we extended our work to other fields, such as Parkinson’s disease and problems linked to the use of antibiotics.
More recently, we have devoted considerable effort to developing an essential tool: a modular oncology platform. This platform, focused on immuno-oncology, offers the possibility of testing several treatments before their direct administration to patients. This predictive and exploratory approach represents a major step forward in medical research and improved care.”
What issues does your innovation address?
“Firstly, it provides a solution to complex medical prescriptions, offering a tool that enables doctors to manage precise dosages and detailed prescriptions. This facilitates the tracking of patient information, enabling better communication between doctors, patients and, in some cases, parents, and reduces unnecessary back and forth. Ultimately, this helps optimize patient treatment, offering significant benefits in some cases, especially when time for testing is limited.
Here’s a concrete example illustrating a problem: a psychiatrist received a teenager and his parents with very complex medical prescriptions. It was difficult to determine precise dosages and create detailed prescriptions. We developed a tool to record patient data anonymously, facilitating communication between the doctor and the parents. This tool reduced unnecessary travel and provided a means of teaching and informing parents more effectively.”
What are the next steps in the development of this project?
“The PROMPT-funded project ends in March 2024. We plan to continue developing the platform by adding new functionalities and exploring new combinations. The aim is to integrate elements such as chemotherapy and other oncology drugs. This extension will enable us to determine more precisely when to administer these drugs based on specific patient characteristics, thus improving targeting capability.”
Have you already seen any spin-offs from the project?
“Yes, we have seen several positive spin-offs from the project. Benefits include financial and time savings, as well as increased FDA interest. Firstly, the training of graduate students has been particularly noteworthy. In addition, computational platform tools are attracting growing interest from pharmaceutical companies. These tools are now available to molecule developers, providing essential scientific knowledge. The spin-offs include scientific advances, time improvements and increased multidisciplinarity.”
What were the benefits of PROMPT’s support?
“The concrete approach, dedicated to the materialization of scientific products, was greatly appreciated. In Quebec, where a lot of funds are allocated to technology, PROMPT’s philosophy proved to be aligned with the project’s needs. The support offered made the spin-offs much more tangible. Developments were carried out in collaboration with the university, where the ADHD application was transferred to a company, while the oncology application is still under development.”
If you could sum up PROMPT’s support or benefits in a single sentence or quotation?
“PROMPT has been an outstanding support every step of the way, offering invaluable advice and a dynamic team, especially with the appreciated help of the entire team available to guide and support through the process.”
