Prediction Characteristics of Oral Absorption Simulation Software Evaluated Using Structurally Diverse Low-Solubility Drugs

The purpose of the present study was to characterize current biopharmaceutics modeling and simulation software regarding the prediction of the fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa) in humans. As commercial software products, GastroPlus™ and Simcyp® were used. In addition, the gastrointestinal unified theoretical framework, a simple and publicly accessible model, was used as a benchmark. The Fa prediction characteristics for a total of 96 clinical Fa data of 27 model drugs were systematically evaluated using the default settings of each software product. The molecular weight, dissociation constant, octanol-water partition coefficient, solubility in biorelevant media, dose, and particle size of model drugs were used as input data. Although the same input parameters were used, GastroPlus™, Simcyp®, and the gastrointestinal unified theoretical framework showed different Fa prediction characteristics depending on the rate-limiting steps of oral drug absorption. The results of the present study would be of great help for the overall progression of physiologically based absorption models.