Case Study: Pfizer achieves reduced Phase II attrition with MathWorks model‑based drug development

Pfizer Uses Model-Based Drug Development to Help Reduce Phase II Attrition Rates

Pfizer adopted MathWorks' model‑based drug development approach, using MATLAB and SimBiology to tackle high phase II attrition. The challenge was to reduce late‑stage failures by improving early selection of biological pathways, targets, dosing regimens, and patient populations while making complex models easier to build and share across teams.

MathWorks’ tools enabled Pfizer to construct systems‑pharmacology models (including SBML imports), run sensitivity analyses, visualize time‑course simulations, and reuse model components. Using MATLAB and SimBiology, Pfizer gained deeper insight into drug–body interactions, increased research productivity, and avoided costly lab work and trials—for example, a 26‑species/64‑parameter siRNA NF‑kB model correctly predicted insufficient inhibition—helping terminate nonviable projects earlier and reduce wasted development resources.

Pfizer

Neil Benson

Associate Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism (PDM)