
Mechanistic modeling approach and experimental integration designed to improve early risk identification, strengthen regulatory confidence, and expand AI-enabled workflows connecting data to

Mechanistic modeling approach and experimental integration designed to improve early risk identification, strengthen regulatory confidence, and expand AI-enabled workflows connecting data to decision-making


Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLP">SLP</a>) ("Simulations Plus" or the "Company"), a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development that advances biopharma innovation, today announced a funded research collaboration with Lonza Group AG ("Lonza"), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to serving the healthcare industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop and validate a mechanistic, predictive framework for assessing the in vivo performance of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug products.


"Complex oral formulations such as amorphous solid dispersions present significant scientific and regulatory challenges due to their sensitivity to physiological and manufacturing variables," said Dr. Viera Lukacova, Chief Scientific Officer of Simulations Plus. "Through this funded collaboration, we aim to integrate advanced in vitro systems with mechanistic modeling to improve prediction of in vivo performance, support regulatory decision-making, and enable more efficient development pathways for these high-impact therapies that deliver faster dissolution and more drug absorption."


Advancing Mechanistic, Model-Informed Approaches for Complex Products


ASDs are among the most powerful yet complex oral drug delivery systems, with performance influenced by factors such as food intake, gastric pH, formulation composition, and manufacturing processes. Current regulatory approaches often require multiple clinical bioequivalence (BE) studies, which can be resource-intensive while still carrying uncertainty.


The collaboration evaluates whether advanced in vitro dissolution systems—particularly those incorporating dynamic gastrointestinal physiology—combined with mechanistic physiologically based biopharmaceutics modeling (PBBM), can reliably predict key in vivo outcomes, including food effects and the impact of elevated gastric pH conditions.


By establishing and validating these predictive capabilities, the collaboration aims to provide a scientific foundation for reducing reliance on certain clinical BE studies while maintaining the rigor and transparency required by regulators.


Integrating Experimental and Mechanistic Modeling Expertise


The collaboration brings together complementary capabilities across experimental science and computational modeling.


Lonza will lead experimental work, including in vitro dissolution testing under fasted, fed, and elevated gastric pH conditions using advanced systems such as Controlled Transfer Dissolution (CTD), as well as the characterization and, where needed, manufacturing of ASD formulation variants.


Simulations Plus will lead the development and validation of in vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) frameworks using its DDDPlus&#xAE; and GastroPlus&#xAE; platforms, translating experimental data into predictions of in vivo pharmacokinetics and supporting virtual bioequivalence assessments. At the same time, it creates new opportunities to extend these capabilities into grounded AI-enabled workflow environments, where data, mechanistic models, and simulation outputs will be more directly connected. The Company will also contribute to interpretation within a regulatory context, ensuring alignment with evolving expectations for model-informed drug development (MIDD).


Francois Ricard, Head of R&amp;D, Lonza Advanced Synthesis, said, "This collaboration reflects Lonza's commitment to advancing more predictive, science-driven approaches as the leader in the field of bioavailability enhancement. By combining advanced in vitro experimentation with mechanistic modeling, and working closely with Simulations Plus and the FDA, we aim to strengthen the scientific foundation that underpins regulatory decision-making for complex oral drug products. Ultimately, this type of collaboration should help accelerate development for our customers requiring bioequivalence during clinical development."


Alignment with Regulatory Priorities and Industry Needs


This work is supported in part through FDA funding and includes ongoing engagement with FDA scientists to directly align with regulatory priorities to advance MIDD, modernize bioequivalence assessment for complex products, and reduce unnecessary reliance on human studies. By combining regulatory collaboration with open, non-proprietary data and validated methods based on real-world, FDA-approved ASD products, the initiative is intended to inform future regulatory approaches and support broader adoption of science-based alternatives.


"The industry is moving toward a future where decisions are informed earlier, with greater confidence and scientific transparency," added Lukacova. "Our role is to ensure those decisions are grounded in validated science—while enabling more efficient ways to connect data, models, and insight."


About Simulations Plus, Inc.


Simulations Plus is a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development. We create value for our clients by accelerating the discovery, development, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and other products through innovative science-based software and consulting solutions. For more information, visit <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.simulations-plus.com%252F%26data%3D05%257C02%257Cchristina.hendrickson%2540simulations-plus.com%257Ce00a5e418fc14363254b08de337406c4%257Ca6fe9a739e054efcb9b3f4cc5eab196c%257C0%257C0%257C639004771726597036%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DVl%252BNsGSLmZtDcsrlp0M1V9NI3JD3jT5%252BD3bn1M3Ffn8%253D%26reserved%3D0&amp;esheet=54517668&amp;newsitemid=20260421564555&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.simulations-plus.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=6ed6f28aa1ea3f2eef0a7eacb6e23ad9" shape="rect">www.simulations-plus.com</a>.


Forward-Looking Statements


Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words like "believe," "will", "can", "expect," "anticipate," and similar expressions (or the negative of such terms, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) mean that these are our best estimates as of this writing, but there can be no assurances that expected or anticipated results or events will actually take place, so our actual future results could differ significantly from those statements. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding our fiscal year 2026 guidance, revenue growth, anticipated margins and profitability, demand to software and services, the impact of pricing actions, client spending levels, market conditions, the development, capabilities, regulatory acceptance, regulatory compliance and commercialization of AI-enabled and could-based solutions, the timing and content of product initiatives discussed at Investor Day, and our ability to execute our long-term strategic vision. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: effectiveness of our internal operational structure, our ability to maintain our competitive advantages and commercialize AI and cloud-enabled solutions, evolving regulatory and data privacy standards governing AI technologies, acceptance of new software and improved versions of our existing software by our customers, the general economics of the pharmaceutical industry, our ability to finance growth, our ability to continue to attract and retain highly qualified technical staff, market conditions, macroeconomic factors, and a sustainable market. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our quarterly, annual, and current reports and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No regulatory authority has endorsed, approved, or validated the Company's products, platforms, or AI-related approaches.

<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260421564555r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img>View source version on businesswire.com: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260421564555/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260421564555/en/</a>
Investor Relations Contact:
 Lisa Fortuna
 Financial Profiles
 310-622-8251
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:slp@finprofiles.com" shape="rect">slp@finprofiles.com</a>

Simulations Plus Announces Collaboration with Lonza and U.S. FDA to Advance Predictive Frameworks for Complex Oral Drug Products

Simulations Plus Collaborates with Lonza and FDA to Innovate Drug Safety

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
 <section data-block="information">
 <h3>Information</h3>
 Mechanistic modeling approach and experimental integration designed to improve early risk identification, strengthen regulatory confidence, and expand AI-enabled workflows connecting data to
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
 <h3>AI Summary</h3>
 Simulations Plus, Inc. has entered a pivotal research collaboration with Lonza and the FDA to enhance predictions of in vivo performance for amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug products. This partnership is expected to improve regulatory efficiency and reduce reliance on lengthy clinical trials, directly impacting SLP’s growth prospects in the biopharma sector.
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
 <h3>Key Points</h3>
 <ul><li>Simulations Plus partners with Lonza and FDA for drug assessment innovation.</li><li>Collaboration aims to enhance in vivo performance prediction for ASD products.</li><li>Advanced modeling and experimental integration could streamline regulatory processes.</li><li>Focus on improving drug absorption and dissolution for better patient outcomes.</li><li>Potential decrease in costly clinical studies through predictive capabilities.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
 <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
 <ul><li>Lonza Group AG (LONZ): A major partner providing experimental expertise to enhance SLP&#039;s offerings.</li><li>Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (N/A): Their involvement signifies regulatory support for SLP&#039;s predictive modeling initiatives.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="category">
 <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
 This news falls under &#039;Corporate Developments&#039; as it highlights a significant partnership aimed at enhancing drug development and regulatory processes, which directly influences SLP&#039;s operational growth and market positioning.
 </section>

 <section data-block="market-moving">
 <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
 <ul><li>Improved regulatory frameworks could lead to faster approvals for SLP&#039;s solutions.</li><li>Decreased reliance on clinical trials may increase market demand for SLP’s software.</li><li>Successful validation of predictive models can elevate SLP&#039;s market competitiveness.</li><li>FDA partnership enhances credibility, possibly attracting new clients and partnerships.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="key-facts">
 <h3>Key Facts</h3>
 <ul><li>The collaboration is partly funded by the FDA.</li><li>Simulations Plus uses platforms like DDDPlus® and GastroPlus® for modeling.</li><li>ASDs are complex drug delivery systems influenced by various physiological factors.</li><li>The partnership aims to establish reliable predictions for in vivo outcomes.</li><li>Reducing clinical BE studies aligns with FDA&#039;s regulatory modernization efforts.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="trading-thesis">
 <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
 SLP shares may see upside as regulatory collaboration enhances growth trajectory in drug development.
 </section>
</section>



Mechanistic modeling approach and experimental integration designed to improve early risk identification, strengthen regulatory confidence, and expand AI-enabled workflows connecting data to decision-making


Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLP">SLP</a>) ("Simulations Plus" or the "Company"), a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development that advances biopharma innovation, today announced a funded research collaboration with Lonza Group AG ("Lonza"), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to serving the healthcare industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop and validate a mechanistic, predictive framework for assessing the in vivo performance of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug products.


"Complex oral formulations such as amorphous solid dispersions present significant scientific and regulatory challenges due to their sensitivity to physiological and manufacturing variables," said Dr. Viera Lukacova, Chief Scientific Officer of Simulations Plus. "Through this funded collaboration, we aim to integrate advanced in vitro systems with mechanistic modeling to improve prediction of in vivo performance, support regulatory decision-making, and enable more efficient development pathways for these high-impact therapies that deliver faster dissolution and more drug absorption."


Advancing Mechanistic, Model-Informed Approaches for Complex Products


ASDs are among the most powerful yet complex oral drug delivery systems, with performance influenced by factors such as food intake, gastric pH, formulation composition, and manufacturing processes. Current regulatory approaches often require multiple clinical bioequivalence (BE) studies, which can be resource-intensive while still carrying uncertainty.


The collaboration evaluates whether advanced in vitro dissolution systems—particularly those incorporating dynamic gastrointestinal physiology—combined with mechanistic physiologically based biopharmaceutics modeling (PBBM), can reliably predict key in vivo outcomes, including food effects and the impact of elevated gastric pH conditions.


By establishing and validating these predictive capabilities, the collaboration aims to provide a scientific foundation for reducing reliance on certain clinical BE studies while maintaining the rigor and transparency required by regulators.


Integrating Experimental and Mechanistic Modeling Expertise


The collaboration brings together complementary capabilities across experimental science and computational modeling.


Lonza will lead experimental work, including in vitro dissolution testing under fasted, fed, and elevated gastric pH conditions using advanced systems such as Controlled Transfer Dissolution (CTD), as well as the characterization and, where needed, manufacturing of ASD formulation variants.


Simulations Plus will lead the development and validation of in vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) frameworks using its DDDPlus&#xAE; and GastroPlus&#xAE; platforms, translating experimental data into predictions of in vivo pharmacokinetics and supporting virtual bioequivalence assessments. At the same time, it creates new opportunities to extend these capabilities into grounded AI-enabled workflow environments, where data, mechanistic models, and simulation outputs will be more directly connected. The Company will also contribute to interpretation within a regulatory context, ensuring alignment with evolving expectations for model-informed drug development (MIDD).


Francois Ricard, Head of R&amp;D, Lonza Advanced Synthesis, said, "This collaboration reflects Lonza's commitment to advancing more predictive, science-driven approaches as the leader in the field of bioavailability enhancement. By combining advanced in vitro experimentation with mechanistic modeling, and working closely with Simulations Plus and the FDA, we aim to strengthen the scientific foundation that underpins regulatory decision-making for complex oral drug products. Ultimately, this type of collaboration should help accelerate development for our customers requiring bioequivalence during clinical development."


Alignment with Regulatory Priorities and Industry Needs


This work is supported in part through FDA funding and includes ongoing engagement with FDA scientists to directly align with regulatory priorities to advance MIDD, modernize bioequivalence assessment for complex products, and reduce unnecessary reliance on human studies. By combining regulatory collaboration with open, non-proprietary data and validated methods based on real-world, FDA-approved ASD products, the initiative is intended to inform future regulatory approaches and support broader adoption of science-based alternatives.


"The industry is moving toward a future where decisions are informed earlier, with greater confidence and scientific transparency," added Lukacova. "Our role is to ensure those decisions are grounded in validated science—while enabling more efficient ways to connect data, models, and insight."


About Simulations Plus, Inc.


Simulations Plus is a global leader in model-informed and AI-accelerated drug development. We create value for our clients by accelerating the discovery, development, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and other products through innovative science-based software and consulting solutions. For more information, visit <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.simulations-plus.com%252F%26data%3D05%257C02%257Cchristina.hendrickson%2540simulations-plus.com%257Ce00a5e418fc14363254b08de337406c4%257Ca6fe9a739e054efcb9b3f4cc5eab196c%257C0%257C0%257C639004771726597036%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DVl%252BNsGSLmZtDcsrlp0M1V9NI3JD3jT5%252BD3bn1M3Ffn8%253D%26reserved%3D0&amp;esheet=54517668&amp;newsitemid=20260421564555&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.simulations-plus.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=6ed6f28aa1ea3f2eef0a7eacb6e23ad9" shape="rect">www.simulations-plus.com</a>.


Forward-Looking Statements


Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words like "believe," "will", "can", "expect," "anticipate," and similar expressions (or the negative of such terms, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) mean that these are our best estimates as of this writing, but there can be no assurances that expected or anticipated results or events will actually take place, so our actual future results could differ significantly from those statements. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding our fiscal year 2026 guidance, revenue growth, anticipated margins and profitability, demand to software and services, the impact of pricing actions, client spending levels, market conditions, the development, capabilities, regulatory acceptance, regulatory compliance and commercialization of AI-enabled and could-based solutions, the timing and content of product initiatives discussed at Investor Day, and our ability to execute our long-term strategic vision. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: effectiveness of our internal operational structure, our ability to maintain our competitive advantages and commercialize AI and cloud-enabled solutions, evolving regulatory and data privacy standards governing AI technologies, acceptance of new software and improved versions of our existing software by our customers, the general economics of the pharmaceutical industry, our ability to finance growth, our ability to continue to attract and retain highly qualified technical staff, market conditions, macroeconomic factors, and a sustainable market. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our quarterly, annual, and current reports and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No regulatory authority has endorsed, approved, or validated the Company's products, platforms, or AI-related approaches.

<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260421564555r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img>View source version on businesswire.com: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260421564555/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260421564555/en/</a>
Investor Relations Contact:
 Lisa Fortuna
 Financial Profiles
 310-622-8251
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:slp@finprofiles.com" shape="rect">slp@finprofiles.com</a>

Simulations Plus, Inc. has entered a pivotal research collaboration with Lonza and the FDA to enhance predictions of in vivo performance for amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug products. This partnership is expected to improve regulatory efficiency and reduce reliance on lengthy clinical trials, directly impacting SLP’s growth prospects in the biopharma sector.

Simulations Plus Announces Collaboration with Lonza and U.S. FDA to Advance Predictive Frameworks for Complex Oral Drug Products

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

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