Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Scientific Meetings
How Well do Toxicology Studies Predict Clinical Safety Outcome? – A Translational Safety Big Data Analysis
Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Training Courses
How Well do Toxicology Studies Predict Clinical Safety Outcome? – A Translational Safety Big Data Analysis
Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Journal Club
How Well do Toxicology Studies Predict Clinical Safety Outcome? – A Translational Safety Big Data Analysis
Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Webinars
How Well do Toxicology Studies Predict Clinical Safety Outcome? – A Translational Safety Big Data Analysis
Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Careers Meetings
How Well do Toxicology Studies Predict Clinical Safety Outcome? – A Translational Safety Big Data Analysis
Matthew Clark, Scientific Services, R&D Solutions, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA & Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
Abstract:
Attrition of drug candidates in clinical trials due to safety issues still contributes to a significant part of project closures besides other reasons such as the lack of efficacy, PK issues or strategic reasons. While failure of a candidate during preclinical development is a reflection of the primary task of the functions involved in this phase (i.e. toxicology, safety pharmacology and DMPK), failures during the later clinical phases often raise the question whether the preclinical safety studies are sufficiently predictive for the human outcome. Due to the fact that the First-in-Man study requires pivotal animal studies normally performed in two species, the focus of analysis of the debated predictivity centers around these animal studies. After the seminal study from Olson et al. (2000) numerous publications have shown that animal toxicity studies are predictive to a certain extent and that the predictivity varies among endpoints, some of them such as hematological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular events being better predicted than others (e.g. cutaneous adverse events). Most of these analyses compared the preclinical – clinical correlation for a rather limited set of compounds (<150) or for specific field of indications. The authors will present the results of this purely statistical approach based on data available for 3290 compounds in the commercial database Pharmapendium. The work provides answers to the implication of an observation in an animal for human risk and more specifically to the question whether concordance, i.e. the translatability of an observation from animal to human is dependent on the animal species. The statistical methods and procedures will be described in detail.
Registration:
Registration has now closed.
Upcoming Events
Joint PSI/EFSPI Visualisation SIG 'Wonderful Wednesday' Webinars
Our monthly webinar explores examples of innovative data visualisations relevant to our day to day work. Each month a new dataset is provided from a clinical trial or other relevant example, and participants are invited to submit a graphic that communicates interesting and relevant characteristics of the data.
PSI Book Club: Change: How organisations achieve hard-to-image results in uncertain and volatile times
Organizations have to adapt to the transforming landscape of our industry to ensure they continue to be successful in the future. Many of us are feeling the impact of organizational change. By reading John P Kotter’s book we can understand about organizational change and learn how to thrive, rather than just survive, through change.
Change, by John P Kotter (and his team), is a summary of all that he has learned over his decades of research and leading change. His book describes why many current approaches to change are inadequate and explains why new solutions need to give people a voice and a role in a new, change-embracing organization.
Develop your understanding of organisational change and become empowered to be part of your organisation’s change, by reading Change by John P Kotter and joining the Sept-Dec 2025 book club. You will be invited to join facilitated discussions of the concepts and ideas and apply knowledge from the book in-between sessions.
PSI Book Club: Another Door Opens – Book Club Special Event
This is a Book Club Special Event in response to the changes in our industry and as a supportive move to create community and connection for those navigating redundancy and uncertainty. Read the book in advance of the book club session then join the zoom call to discuss ideas. There will be breakout groups to connect with others, exchange experiences of how the book has helped, and offer support.
Our monthly webinar series allows attendees to gain practical knowledge and skills in open-source coding and tools, with a focus on applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.
PSI Training Course: Propensity Scores: Practical Application in Non-randomised Studies
The course will introduce the topic of propensity scores and the use of external data. Covering the topics of matching and weighting as well as more advance topics of high dimension propensity scores, multi-valued treatments, double robustness and time-varying scenarios. There will be the opportunity to participate in some hands on practical exercises in R.
This two-afternoon virtual course provides a practical introduction to adaptive clinical trials, focusing on the concepts, applications, and regulatory principles outlined in ICH E20 through real-world examples and case studies.
PSI Careers - MEDMathS: Medicine Empowered by Data, Maths and Statistics
Date: Wednesday 4th November 2026
A careers talk about medical statistics and how it plays a crucial role in developing new medicines. Learn about the field of medical statistics and how it plays a crucial role in developing groundbreaking new medicines, vaccines and healthcare products.
Date: 18 November 2026
This is an excellent opportunity for students to find out more about the field of medical statistics, talk to people from different organisations and make contacts for the future. All students currently studying for a mathematics or statistics-related BSc, MSc or PhD are invited to attend, and we welcome interest from exhibitors too.
This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.
Bristol Myers Squibb - Director, Statistical Methodology and Innovation
Lead the development of innovative statistical methods, provides expert consulting, oversees tools and software, and mentors team members while collaborating cross-functionally to address complex drug development challenges.
nQuery (Statistical Solutions) - Research Biostatistian
We're looking for a Biostatistician who thrives at the intersection of academic rigour and real-world software impact with a strong grounding in statistics and hands-on experience in biostatistics, clinical trials, or a closely related field
As a Senior Statistician, you will provide high-quality statistical support to one of our key-FSP clients. At Senior level you may also take on a supervisory role (e.g. line management and/or project management), depending on your experience and interest.
This position is deal for a statistician who values ownership, collaboration, and using data to enable confident development decisions and to support regulatory submissions.