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Immunotherapy in Oncology

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One of the biggest recent advances in cancer therapy has been the arrival of novel immunotherapies, such as anti-PD1 antibodies, which have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in multiple tumor types. In many instances supported by the ‘Breakthrough’ status granted by the FDA, many pharmaceutical companies are making huge efforts to bring these promising treatments to cancer patients in a timely fashion.

In this webinar, Rik de Greef discussed how modeling and simulation can support a focused and efficient development program for immunotherapies in cancer. Key challenges around dose selection, clinical pharmacology profiling and drug labeling were addressed through a variety of M&S techniques. Apart from discussing a conceptual framework for M&S in immuno-oncology, several practical applications were discussed, demonstrating the utility of M&S in this exciting area of drug development.

About Our Speaker

Rik de Greef, Executive Director, Quantitative Solutions, a Certara company. Rik de Greef joined Quantitative Solutions in July 2014 as Executive Director and lead of the group in Oss, The Netherlands. Rik has been trained as a PK-PD scientist at Leiden University, The Netherlands. In 1998, he joined Organon, where he has been the key driver for the successful implementation of model based drug development approaches, supporting the development and registration of e.g. asenapine (schizophrenia & bipolar disorder) and corifollitropin alfa (fertility).

Over the years, Rik has taken on roles with increasing responsibilities within Organon and its successor companies Schering-Plough and Merck/MSD. Most recently, has was site lead for Clinical PK-PD. In this role he has led the expansion of the group from 15 to 34 coworkers. Also, he has led the preparations of the early clinical components of the BLA submission for Merck’s key program in oncology, pembrolizumab.

Rik’s key interests are in the integration of model based components with overall clinical pharmacology and clinical development deliverables throughout the development trajectory. He enjoys combining his analytical skills and creativity in designing efficient drug development strategies that address the right questions at the right time. In his spare time, Rik enjoys spending time with his family, and fostering his broad range of other interests: music, nature, design, food and combinations thereof.

One of the biggest recent advances in cancer therapy has been the arrival of novel immunotherapies, such as anti-PD1 antibodies, which have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in multiple tumor types. In many instances supported by the ‘Breakthrough’ status granted by the FDA, many pharmaceutical companies are making huge efforts to bring these promising treatments to cancer patients in a timely fashion.

In this webinar, Rik de Greef discussed how modeling and simulation can support a focused and efficient development program for immunotherapies in cancer. Key challenges around dose selection, clinical pharmacology profiling and drug labeling were addressed through a variety of M&S techniques. Apart from discussing a conceptual framework for M&S in immuno-oncology, several practical applications were discussed, demonstrating the utility of M&S in this exciting area of drug development.